102 VOYAGE TO THE 



vance of this form, that we do not know of any 

 instance in which it has been forgotten. On one 

 occasion I had engaged Adams in conversation, and 

 he incautiously took the first mouthful without hav- 

 ing said his grace ; but before he had swallowed it, 

 he recollected himself, and feeling as if he had com- 

 mitted a crime, immediately put away what he had 

 in his mouth, and commenced his prayer. 



Welcome cheer, hospitality, and good-humour, 

 were the characteristics of the feast ; and never was 

 their beneficial influence more practically exemplified 

 than on this occasion, by the demolition of nearly all 

 that was placed before us. With the exception of 

 some wine we had brought with us, water was the 

 only beverage. This was placed in a large jug at 

 one end of the board, and when necessary, was passed 

 round the table — a ceremony at which, in Pitcairn's 

 Island in particular, it is desirable to be the first par- 

 taker, as the gravy of the dish is invariably mingled 

 with the contents of the pitcher : the natives, who 

 prefer using their fingers to forks, being quite in- 

 different whether they hold the vessel by the handle 

 or by the spout. Three or four torches made with 

 doodoe nuts (alenrites triloba), strung upon the 

 fibres of a palm-leaf, were stuck in tin pots at the 

 end of the table, and formed an excellent substitute 

 for candles, except that they gave a considerable 

 heat, and cracked, and fired, somewhat to the dis- 

 comfiture of the person whose face was near them. 



Notwithstanding these deficiencies, we made a 

 very comfortable and hearty supper, heard many 

 little anecdotes of the place, and derived much 

 amusement from the singularity of the inquiries of 

 our hosts. One regret only intruded itself upon the 



