THEPACIFICOCEAN. 6^ 



Otoo had adled properly by waiting for me ; though this '777- 



II II-'- m n ,-w^ ■. ^ September, 



had prevented his giving alhltance to Towha fo foon as he 

 expedted. 



Our debates at Oparre, on this fubjeft, were hardly end- 

 ed, before a raeflenger arrived from Towha, defiring Otoo's 

 attendance, the next day, at the 7/iorai in Attahooroo, to give 

 thanks to the Gods for the peace he had conchided ; at leaft, 

 fuch was Omai's account to me, of the objecft of this folem- 

 nity. I was aflvcd to go 5 but being much out of order, 

 was obliged to decline it. Defirous, however, of knowing 

 what ceremonies might be obferved on fo memorable an 

 occafion, I fent Mr. King, and Omai, and returned on board 

 my fhip, attended by Otoo's mother, his three fiftcrs, and 

 eight more women. At firft, I thought that this numerous 

 train of females came into my boat with no other view than 

 to get a pafTage to Matavai. But when we arrived at the 

 fliip, they told me, they intended pafTing the night on 

 board, for the exprefs purpofe of undertaking the cure of 

 the diforder I complained of; which was a pain of the 

 rheumatic kind, extending from the hip to the foot. I ac- 

 cepted the friendly offer, had a bed fpread for them upon 

 the cabbin floor, and fubmitted myfelf to their direcftions. 

 I was dcfired to lay myfelf down amongfl: them. Then, as 

 many of them as could get round me, began to fqueeze me 

 with both hands, from head to foot, but more particularly on 

 the parts where the pain was lodged, till they made my bones 

 .crack, and my flefli became a perfe(5t mummy. In fliort, 

 after undergoing this difcipline about a quarter of an hour, 

 I was glad 10 get away from them. However, the opera- 

 tion gave me immediate relief, which encouraged me to 

 fubmit to another rubbing-down before I went to bed; and 

 it was fo eiledual, that I found myfelf pretty eafy all the 



night 



