T H E P A C IF I C O G E A N. 337 



privileges ; amongfl: which was, that of eating with his fa- '777- 

 iher ; an honour he had not, as yet, been admitted to. 



We arrived at Mooa about eight o'clock, and found the 

 king, with a large circle of attendants fitting before him, 

 Vi/^ithin an inclofure fo fmall and dirty, as to excite my won- 

 der that any fuch could be found in that neighbourhood. 

 They were intent upon their ufual morning occupation, in 

 preparing a bowl of kava. As this was no liquor for us, we 

 walked out to vifit fome of our friends, and to obferve what 

 preparations might be making for the ceremony, which was 

 foon to begin. About ten o'clock, the people began to alTemble, 

 in a large area, which is before the malaee^ or great houfe, to 

 whichr we had been conducted the firft time we vifited Mooa. 

 At the end of a road, that opens into this area, flood fome 

 men with fpears and clubs, who kept conftantly reciting, or 

 chanting, fliort fentences, in a mournful tone, which con- 

 veyed fome idea of diftrefs, and as if they called for fome- 

 thing. This was continued about an hour; and, in the 

 mean time, many people came down the road, each of them 

 bringing a yam, tied to the middle of a pole, which they 

 laid down, before the perfons who continued repeating the 

 fentences. While this was going on, the king and prince 

 arrived, and feated themfelves upon the area ; and we were 

 defired to lit down by them, but to pull off our hats, and 

 to untie our hair. The bearers of the yams being all come 

 in, each pole was taken up between two men, who carried 

 it over their fhoulders. After forming themfelves into com- 

 panies, of ten or twelve perfons each, they marched acrofs 

 the place, with a quick pace ; each company, headed by a 

 man bearing a club or fpear, and guarded, on the right, by 

 feveral others, armed with different weapons. A man car- 

 rying a living pigeon on a perch, clofed the rear of the 



Vol. I. X X proceffion. 



