j^Z AVOYAGETO 



'777- Encland, upon the ^reatcft man, if he killed the meaneft 



September. to ' r o 



' — • fcrvant, they fcemed to liilen with great attention ; and 



were, probably, of a different opinion from that of their 

 mailer, on this fubjedl. 



After leaving Towha, we proceeded to Oparre, where 

 Otoo prelTcd us to fpend the night. We landed in the even- 

 ing ; and, on our road to his houfe, had an opportunity of 

 obferving in what manner thefe people amufe themfelves, 

 in their private heevas. About a hundred of them were 

 found fitting in a houfe ; and in the midfl of them were two 

 women, with an old man behind each of them, beating very 

 gently upon a drum ; and the women, at intervals, finging 

 in a fofter manner, than I ever heard at their other diver- 

 fions. The affembly liftened with great attention ; and 

 were, feemingly, almoft abforbed in the pleafure the mufic 

 gave them ; for few took any notice of us, and the per- 

 formers never once flopped. It was almoft dark before we 

 reached Otoo's houfe, where we were entertained with one 

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

 appeared as the principal charatflers. This was what they 

 call a heeva m'd, which is of fuch a nature, that no body is 

 to enter the houfe or area, where it is exhibited. When the 

 royal CRcrs are the performers, this is always the cafe. 

 Their drcfs, on this occafion, was truly picfturefque and ele- 

 gant ; and they acquitted themfelves, in their parts, in a 

 very diftinguiflied manner; though fome comic interludes, 

 performed by four men, fcemed to yield greater pleafure to 

 Wednef. 3. the audieuce, which was numerous. The next morning 

 we proceeded to Matavai, leaving Otoo at Oparre -, but his 

 mother, fillers, and fcvcral other women, attended me on 

 board, and Otoo himfclf followed foon after. 



While 



