THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 155 



ins that reftraint, the ho2;s multiply Co faft, that there are ^ '777- 



o o r y ' December. 



iuftances of their changing their domeftic ftate, and turning v_— ^ ' 



v/iid. When it is thought proper to take off the prohibition, 

 all the Chiefs affemble at the king's place of abode; and 

 each brings with him a prefent of hogs. The king then 

 orders fome of them to be killed, on which they feafl ; and, 

 after that, every one returns home with liberty to kill what 

 he pleafes for his own ufe. Such a prohibition was actually 

 in force, on our laft arrival here ; at Icail, in all thofe diftricfts 

 of the ifland, that are immediately under the direction of 

 Otoo. And, left it fliould have prevented our going to 

 Matavai after leaving Oheitepeha, he fcnt a mefTage to 

 affure us, that it fliould be taken off, as foon as the 

 fliips arrived there. With rcfpecT: to us, we found it 

 fo ; but we made fuch a confumption of them, that, I 

 have no doubt, it would be laid on again, as foon as we 

 failed. A fimilar prohibition is alfo, fometiraes, extended 

 to fowls. 



It is alfo amongft the better fort, that the ava is chiefly 

 ufed. But this beverage is prepared fomewhat differently, 

 from that which we faw fo much of at the Friendly Iflands. 

 For they pour a very fmall quantity of water upon the root 

 here; and fometimes roaft or bake, and bruife the ftalks, 

 without chewing it previoufly to its infulion. They alfo 

 ufe the leaves of tlie plant here, which are bruifed, and 

 water poured upon tliem, as upon the root. Large compa- 

 nies do not affemble to drink it, in that fociable way which 

 is pra<5lifed at Tongataboo. But its pernicious effeifts are 

 more obvious here; perhaps, owing to the manner of pre- 

 paring it; as we often faw inftances of its intoxicating, or 

 rather ftupifying powers. Some of us, who had been at 

 thefe illands before, were furprized to find many people, 

 who, when we faw them laft, were remarkable for their 



X 2 fize 



