402 cook's VOYAGE TO JULY, 



him, as I supposed, for his separate portion. But he 

 joined it to our fare, sat down with us, and made a 

 hearty meal. 



When dinner was 1 over, we were told that the 

 ceremony would soon begin ; and were strictly en- 

 joined not to walk out. I had resolved, however, to 

 peep no longer from behind the curtain, but to mix 

 with the actors themselves, if possible. With this 

 view r I stole out from the plantation, and walked 

 toward the moral, the scene of the solemnity. I was 

 several times desired to go back by people whom I 

 met ; but I paid no regard to them ; and they suf- 

 fered me to pass on. When I arrived at the moral, 

 I found a number of men seated on the side of the 

 area on each side of the road that leads up to it. A 

 few were sitting on the opposite side of the area ; 

 and two men in the middle of it, with their faces 

 turned to the moral. When I got into the midst 

 of the first company, I was desired to sit down, 

 which I accordingly did. Where I sat, there were 

 lying a number of small bundles or parcels, composed 

 of cocoa-nut leaves, and tied to sticks made into the 

 form of hand-barrows. All the information I could 

 get about them was, that they were taboo. Our 

 number kept continually increasing ; every one 

 coming from the same quarter. From time to time, 

 one or another of the company turned himself to 

 those who were coming to join us, and made a short 

 speech, in which I could remark that the word are free, 

 that is, king, was generally mentioned. One man 

 said something that produced bursts of hearty 

 laughter from all the crowd ; others of the speakers 

 met with public applause. I was several times de- 

 sired to leave the place ; and, at last, when they 

 found that I would not stir, after some seeming con- 

 sultation, they applied to me to uncover my shoulders 

 as theirs were. With this request I complied ; and 

 then they seemed to be no longer uneasy at my 

 presence. 



