DINNER A LA RUSSE. 191 
Family a little apart from the rest of the 
company. The infant King had long before 
begun to cry from weariness, and had been car- 
ried back into the boat, where he had quietly 
fallen asleep. A prayer was repeated before 
and after dinner. The visitors seemed to think 
our dishes very palatable, and even the Royal 
Family ate with good appetite, though they 
had so recently made a substantial meal. Their 
conduct was extremely decorous, and showed 
much aptitude in imitation. They made use of 
the knives, forks, and spoons as readily as if 
they had been always accustomed to them ; and 
the wine, though by no means despised, was 
very moderately enjoyed. 
After dinner a general conversation took 
place, in which a man of seventy years of age 
distinguished himself by his animation and in- 
telligence. He was the only individual present 
who had personally known Captain Cook. He 
asserted that he had been his particular friend, 
and for this reason still bore his name, which he 
pronounced quite correctly, although there is 
neither a C nor K in the Tahaitian alphabet. 
He boasted not a little of having accompanied 
