THE SANDWICH ISLANDS. 313 



quick, and with a good appetite, conversing, how- 

 ever, all the time. Instead of bread, he ate the 

 taro-doiigh, which, when diluted with water, be- 

 comes a soft pap ; and, though the king posses- 

 ses very handsome table-utensils, it stands in a 

 gourd-shell at his right hand, in which he dips his 

 forefinger when he eats fish or flesh, and dexter- 

 ously stuffs a good portion of it in his mouth ; and 

 this slovenly way of eating is observed from the 

 king down to the lowest menial. Tamaahmaah, 

 who, during the whole repast, had made use only of 

 his fingers, perceived very well that I attentively 

 observed his motions, and said to me, " This is the 

 custom in my country, and I will not depart from 

 it!" 



The bearer of his spitting-tray does not quit 

 him a moment, as he always holds the tray ready, 

 which is made of wood, in the form of a snuff-box, 

 and provided with a lid, which is opened when the 

 kins: intends to make use of it, and then imme- 

 diately closed. This careful preservation of the royal 

 saliva, is in consequence of a superstition, that so 

 long as they are in possession of this treasure their 

 enemies are not able to send him any sickness by 

 conjuration. After the king had dined, it was at last 

 agreed what provisions I was to receive from Woa- 

 hoo; theyconsisted of forty-three hogs, a proportion- 

 ate number of fowls, and geese, every kind of fruit 

 which the island produces, and as much wood as 1 

 wished to have. Tamaahmaah told me that he had 



