THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 315 



^"^ery fpots, with hardly any foil upon them, were covered '777- 



with luxuriant vegetation. We were condu6ted to feveral « ,r—.u 



little pools, and to fome fprings of water ; but, in general, 

 they were either ftinking or brackifh, though recom- 

 mended to us by the natives as excellent. The former 

 were, moftly, inland, and the latter near the fliore of the 

 bay, and below high-water mark; fo that tolerable water 

 could be taken up from them, only when the tide was 

 out. 



When we returned from our walk, which was not till the 

 dufk of the evening, our fupper was ready. It confided of 

 a baked hog, fome fifli, and yams, all excellently well 

 cooked, after the method of thefe iilands. As there was 

 nothing to amufe us after fupper, we followed the cuflom 

 of the country, and lay down to lleep, our beds being mats 

 fpread upon the floor, and cloth to cover us. The king, 

 who had made himfelf very happy with fome wine and 

 brandy which we had brought, flept in the fame houfe, as 

 well as feveral others of the natives. Long before day- 

 break, he and they all rofe, and fat converfing by moon- 

 light. The converfation, as might well be gueifed, turned 

 wholly upon us ; the king entertaining his company with 

 an account of what he had feen, or remarked. As foon as 

 it was day, they difperfed, fome one way, and fome another; Friday 27. 

 but it was not long before they all returned, and, with 

 them, feveral more of their countrymen. 



They now began to prepare a bowl of kava-, and, leaving 

 them fo employed, I went to pay a vilit to Toobou, Captain 

 Furneaux's friend, who had a houfe hard by, which, for 

 fize and neatnefs, was exceeded by few in the place. As I 

 had left the others, fo I found here a company, preparing a 

 morning draught. This Chief made a prefent to me of a 



S f 2 living 



