iS COOK'S VOYAGE TO SEPT. 



with an old man behind each of them, beating 

 very gently upon a drum ; and the women, at inter- 

 vals, singing in a softer manner, than I ever heard 

 at their other diversions. The assembly listened with 

 great attention ; and were, seemingly, almost ab- 

 sorbed in the pleasure the music gave them ; for few 

 took any notice of us, and the performers never once 

 stopped. It was almost dark before we reached 

 Otoo's house, where we were entertained with one 

 of their public heevas, or plays, in which his three 

 sisters appeared as the principal characters. This 

 was what they call a heeva rati, which is of such a 

 nature, that nobody is to enter the house or area, 

 where it is exhibited. When the royal sisters are 

 the performers, this is always the case. Their dress, 

 on this occasion, was truly picturesque and elegant ; 

 and they acquitted themselves, in their parts, in a 

 very distinguished manner ; though some comic in- 

 terludes, performed by four men, seemed to yield 

 greater pleasure to the audience, which was numer- 

 ous. The next morning we proceeded to Matavai, 

 leaving Otoo at Oparre ; but his mother, sisters, and 

 and several other women, attended me on board, and 

 Otoo himself followed me soon after. 



While Otoo and I were absent from the ships, they 

 had been sparingly supplied with fruit, and had few 

 visitors. After our return, we again overflowed with 

 provisions, and with company. 



On the 14th, a party of us dined ashore with 

 Omai, who gave excellent fare, consisting of fish, 

 fowls, pork, and puddings. After dinner, I attended 

 Otoo, who had been one of the party, back to his 

 house, where 1 found all his servants very busy, get- 

 ting a quantity of provisions ready for me. Amongst 

 other articles, there was a large hog, which they 

 killed in my presence. The entrails were divided 

 into eleven portions, in such a manner that each of 

 them contained a bit of every thing. These portions 

 were distributed to the servants, and some dressed 



