THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 17 



the fecond, came the venerable Kaoo, the chief of the T T 779- 



' January. 



pricfts, and his brethren, with their idols difplayed on red *— m ' 



cloth. Thefe idols were bufts of a gigantic fize, made of 

 wicker-work, and curioufly covered with fmall feathers of 

 various colours, wrought in the fame manner with their 

 cloaks. Their eyes were made of large pearl oyfters, with 

 a black nut fixed in the centre; their mouths were fet with a 

 double row of the fangs of dogs, and, together with the 

 reft of their features, were ftrangcly .diftorted. The third 

 canoe was filled with hogs and various forts of vegetables. 

 As they went along, the priefts in the centre canoe fung 

 their hymns with great folemnity; and after paddling round 

 the mips, inflead of going on board, as was expected, 

 they made toward the more at the beach where we were 

 Rationed *. 



As foon as T faw them approaching, I ordered out our 

 little guard to receive the king; and Captain Cook, perceiv- 

 ing that he was going on more, followed him, and arrived 

 nearly at the fame time. We conducted them into the tent, 

 where they had fcarcely been featcd, when the king rofe 

 up, and in a very graceful manner threw over the Captain's 

 moulders the cloak he himfclf wore, put a feathered helmet 

 upon his head, and a curious fan into his hand. He alfo 

 fprcad at his feet five or fix other cloaks, all exceedingly 

 beautiful, and of the greateft value. His attendants then 

 brought four very large hogs, with fugar-canes, cocoa-nuts, 

 and bread-fruit ; and this part of the ceremony was con- 

 cluded by the king's exchanging names with Captain Cook, 

 which, amongft all the iflanders of the Pacific Ocean, is 



* This curious ceremony is reprefented in the annexed print. The prefents were 

 made to Captain Cook after he went on more. 



Vol. III. D efteemed 



