THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 279 



the operation of chcwin? it; and a bowl of their favourite '777- 



Junr. 



liquor was foon prepared. In the mean time, a baked hog, 

 and two bafkets of baked yams, were produced, and after- 

 ward divided into ten portions. Thefe portions were then 

 given to certain people prefent ; but how many were to 

 fliare in each, I could not tell. One of them, I obferved, 

 was beftowed upon the king's brother ; and one remained 

 undifpofed of, which, I judged, was for the king himfelf, 

 as it was a choice bit. The liquor was next ferved out ; but 

 Poulaho feemed to give no dire(5lions about it. The firft 

 cup was brought to him, which he ordered to be given to 

 one who fat near him. The fecond was alfo brought to 

 him, and this he kept. The third was given to me ; but 

 their manner of brewing having quenched my thirfl, it be- 

 came Omai's property. The reft of the liquor was diftri- 

 buted to different people, by direftion of the man who had 

 the management of it. One of the cups being carried to 

 the king's brother, he retired with this, and with his mefs 

 of vi(51:uals. Some others alfo quitted the circle with their 

 portions; and the reafon was, they could neither eat nor 

 drink in the royal prefence -, but there were others prefent, 

 of a much inferior rank, of both fexes, who did both. Soon 

 after, moft of them witiidrew, carrying with them what 

 they had not eat of their fhare of the feaft. 



I obferved, that not a fourth part of the company had 

 tailed either the victuals or the drink j thofe who partook of 

 the former, I fuppoJed to be of the king's houfehold. The 

 fervants, who diitributed the baked meat, and the kavn, al- 

 ways delivered it out of their hand fitting, not only to the 

 king, but to every other perfon. It is worthy of remark, 

 though this was the firft time of our landing, and a great 

 many people were prefent who had never feen us before, 

 8 yet. 



