252 CAPTAIN COOK'S VOYAGES 



smoking hot, ready to be carried on board for my dinner. 

 I invited Feenou and his friends to partake of it, and we 

 embarked for the ship ; but none but himself sat down 

 with us at the table. After dinner I conducted them on 

 shore ; and before I returned on board, the chief gave me 

 a fine large turtle, and a quantity of yams. Our supply 

 of provisions was copious, for in the course of the day 

 we got, by barter, alongside the ship, about twenty small 

 hogs, besides fruit and roots. 



" Next morning early, Feenou and Omai, who scarcely 

 ever quitted the chief, and now slept on shore, came on 

 board. The object of the visit was to require my presence 

 upon the island, where I saw a large concourse of people 

 already assembled. I guessed that something more than 

 ordinary was in agitation, but could not tell what, nor 

 could Omai inform me. 



" I had not long been landed before near a hundred of 

 the natives appeared in sight, and advanced, laden with 

 yams, breadfruit, plantains, cocoanuts, and sugar-canes. 

 They deposited their burthens in two heaps or piles upon 

 our left. Soon after arrived a' number of others, bearing 

 the same kind of articles, which were collected into two 

 piles upon the right. To these were tied two pigs and 

 six fowls ; and to those upon the left, six pigs and two 

 turtles. 



" As soon as this munificent collection of provisions 

 was laid down in order, and disposed to the best advan- 

 tage, the bearers of it joined the multitude, who formed 

 a large circle round the whole. Presently after a number 

 of men entered this circle, or area, before us, armed with 

 clubs, made of the green branches of the cocoanut tree. 

 These paraded about for a few minutes, and then retired 

 the one half to one side, and the other half to the other 

 side, seating themselves before the spectators. Soon after 

 they successively entered the lists, and entertained us with 

 single combats. One champion, rising up and stepping 

 forward from one side, challenged those of the other side 

 by expressive gestures, more than by words, to send one 

 of their body to oppose him. If the challenge was 

 accepted, which was generally the case, the two com- 

 batants put themselves in proper attitudes, and then began 

 the engagement, which continued till one or other owned 

 himself conquered, or till their weapons were broken. As 

 soon as each combat was over, the victor squatted 

 himself down facing the chief, then rose up and retired. 

 At the same time some old men, who seemed to sit as 

 judges, gave their plaudit in a few words ; and the multi- 

 tude, especially those on the side to which the victor 



