286 AVOYAGETO 



'777. Iar2;e canopy of the finer fort of cloth ; with a piece of the 



June. CD I J 1 



' K ' coarfer fort, fpread under them and before them, that was 



feventy-fix yards long, and feven and a half broad. On one 

 fide was a large old boar ; and on the odier fide a heap of 

 cocoa-nuts. A number of people were feated round the 

 cloth ; and, amongft them, I obferved Mareewagee, and 

 others of the firil rank. I was defned to fit down by the 

 prince ; and then Omai informed me, that he had been 

 inflrudfed by the king to tell me, that, as he and I were 

 friends, he hoped that his fon might be joined in this 

 friendfliip ; and that, as a token of my confent, I would 

 accept of his prefent. I very readily agreed to the propofal ; 

 and, it being now dinner-time, I invited them all on 

 board. 



Accordingly, the young prince, Mareewagee, old Toobou, 

 three or four inferior Chiefs, and two refpe(rtable old ladies 

 of the firfl rank, accompanied me. Mareewagee was drefied 

 in a new piece of cloth, on the flcirts of which were fixed 

 fix pretty large patches of red feathers. This drefs feemed 

 to have been made, on purpofe, for this vifit ; for, as foon 

 as he got on board, he put it off, and prefented it to me; 

 having, I guefs, heard that it would be acceptable, on account 

 of the feathers. Every one of my vifiters received from me 

 fuch prefents, as, I had reafon to believe, they were highly 

 fatisfied with. When dinner came upon table, not one of 

 them would fit down, or eat a bit of any thing that was 

 ferved up. On expreffingmy furprife at this, they were all 

 taboo, as they faid ; which word has a very comprehenfive 

 meaning; but, in general, fignifies that a thing is forbidden. 

 Why they were laid under fuch reftraints, at prefent, was not 

 explained. Dinner being over, and, having gratified their 

 curiofity, by fhewing to them every part of the fhip, I then 

 conducflcd them afliore. 



3 As 



