THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 



I now faw that the prince had turned his face to the morai. 1777- 

 But this lafl movement had brought fo many people be- "^' 

 tween him and me, that I could not perceive what was 

 doing. I was afterward afTured, that, at this very time, the 

 prince was admitted to the high honour of eating with his 

 father ; which, till now, had never been permitted to him ; 

 a piece of roafted yam being prcfented to each of them for 

 this purpofe. This was the more probable, as we had been 

 told, before-hand, that this was to happen during the fo- 

 lemnity ; and as all the people turned their backs to them, 

 at this time, which they always do when their monarch 

 eats. 



After fome little time, we all faced about, and formed a 

 femicircle before the prince, leaving a large open fpace be- 

 tween us. Prefendy there appeared fome men coming to- 

 ward us, two and two, bearing large flicks, or poles, upon 

 their flioulders, making a noife that might be called fing- 

 ing, and waving their hands as they advanced. When they 

 had got clofe up to us, they made a fliew of walking very 

 faft, without proceeding a fingle ftep. Immediately after, 

 three or four men ftarted up from the crowd, with large 

 Hicks in their hands, who ran toward thofe new-comers. 

 The latter inftantly threw down the poles from their fhoul- 

 dcrs, and fcampered off; and the others attacked the poles ; 

 and, having beat them moft unmercifully, returned to their 

 places. As the pole-bearers ran oiF, they gave the challenge 

 that is ufual here in wreflling ; and, not long after, a num- 

 ber of flout fellows came from the fame quarter, repeating 

 the challenge as they advanced. Thefe were oppofed by a. 

 party, who came from the oppofite fide almoil at the fame 

 inftant. The two parties paraded about the area for a 

 few minutes, and then retired, each to their own fide. After 



this. 



349 



