170 CAPTAIN COOK'S VOVAOE.S 



much surprise, that no one had presence of mind to 

 pursue them. 



Early in the morning of the 23rd they unmoored and 

 put to sea. Oree, the chief, was the last man who went 

 out of the ship. At parting, the Captain told him they 

 should see each other no more, at which he wept, and said, 

 " Let your sons come, we will treat them well." Oree was 

 a good man in the utmost sense of the word ; but many of 

 the people were far from being of that disposition, and 

 seemed to take advantage of his old age. During their stay 

 here they got bread-fruit and cocoa-nuts in abundance, but 

 not hogs enough ; and yet it did not appear that they were 

 scarce in the isle. It must, however, be allowed, that the 

 number they took away, when last here, must have tninned 

 them greatly, and at the same time, stocked the isle with 

 our articles. 



As soon as they were clear of the harbour, they made sail, 

 and stood over for the south end of Ulietea, where they 

 dropped anchor the next day. 



On the 25th, a party went ashore to pay the chief a visit, 

 and make the customary present. At their first entering his 

 house, they were met by four or five old women, weeping 

 and lamenting, as it were, most bitterly, and at the same 

 time cutting their heads with instruments made of sharks' 

 teeth, till the blood ran plentifully down their faces and on 

 their shoulders. What was still worse, they were obliged to 

 submit to the embraces of these old hags, and by that 

 means were all besmeared with blood. This ceremony 

 being over, they went out, washed themselves, and imme- 

 diately after appeared as cheerful as any of the company. 

 The Captain made his presents, and after some little stay 

 returned on board. 



On the 27th, they were entertained with a play called 

 " Mididij Harramy," which signifies " the Child is coining." 

 It concluded wittTthe representation of a woman in labour, 

 acted by a set of great brawny fellows, one of whom at last 

 brought forth a strapping boy, about six feet high, who ran 

 about the stage, dragging after him a large wisp of straw, 

 which hung by a string from his middle. They had an 

 opportunity of seeing this acted another time, when it was 

 observed, that the moment they had got hold of the fellow 

 who represented the child, they flattened or pressed his nose. 

 From this they judged that they do so by their children 

 when born, which may be the reason why all in general 

 have .flat noses. This part of the play, from its newness, 

 and the ludicrous manner in which it was performed, gave 

 them, the first time they saw it, some entertainment, and 

 caused a loud laugh, which might be the reason why they 



