288 VOYAGE TO THE 



C ?x P ' beverage, rum was placed upon the table, upon 

 v -^.^-' which the chiefs manifested their approbation, and 



1826.' Utammee seizing the bottle requested it as a pre- 

 sent, and then emptying their glasses, which had 

 been filled with wine, to the toast of Eurahna 

 poy, they bowed politely and withdrew. This par- 

 tiality for spirits seems to be an incorrigible vice, 

 and it is a fortunate circumstance that their means 

 of indulging in it are so very limited. Some of 

 them have materially benefited by the residence of 

 the missionaries, and, in particular, two who resided 

 at Matavai, about four miles to the eastward of our 

 anchorage. They piqued themselves on their imi* 

 tation of European customs, and had neat little cot- 

 tages, built after the European style, with white- 

 washed fronts, which, peeping through some ever- 

 green foliage, had a most agreeable effect, and being 

 the only cottages of this description upon the island 

 in the possession of the natives, were the pride of 

 their owners. The apartments contained chests, 

 chairs, a table, and a knife and fork for a guest ; and 

 nothing gave these chiefs greater pleasure than the 

 company of some of the officers of the ship. Each 

 of them could read and write their own language, 

 and the elder, Pa-why, had, I believe, been useful 

 to the missionaries in translating some part of the 

 Scriptures. He was the more learned of the two 

 brothers ; but Hetotte was the more esteemed, and 

 was an exception to almost all his countrymen in 

 not asking; for what was shown to him. His in- 

 quiries concerning the use of every thing which 

 offered itself to his notice, on coming on board the 

 ship, surprised and interested us ; while his amiable 

 disposition and engaging manners won him the 



