THIRD VOYAGE 375 



fell by accident, he was considered as vanquished, and the 

 victor expressed his triumph by a variety of gestures, which 

 usually excited, as was intended, a loud laugh among the 

 spectators. As these games were given at our desire, we 

 found it was universally expected that we should have borne 

 our part in them ; but our people, though much pressed by 

 the natives, turned a deaf ear to their challenge, remem- 

 bering full well the blows they got at the Friendly Islands. 



" This day died William Watman, a seaman of the 

 gunner's crew, who, with the sincerest attachment, had 

 followed Captain Cook's fortunes for a number of years. 



" At the request of the king of the island, he was buried 

 on the morai, and the ceremony was performed with as 

 much solemnity as our situation permitted. Old Kaoo and 

 his brethren were spectators, and preserved the most pro- 

 found silence and attention whilst the service was reading. 

 When we began to fill up the grave, they approached it with 

 great reverence, threw in a dead pig, some cocoa-nuts and 

 plantains, and for three nights aftei ,;ards they surrounded 

 it, sacrificing hogs, and performing their usual ceremonies of 

 hymns and prayers, which continued till daybreak. 



" The ships being in great want of fuel, the Captain 

 desired me, on the 2nd of February, to treat with the priests 

 for the purchase of the rail that surrounded the top of the 

 morai. I must confess I had at first some doubt about the 

 decency of this proposal, and was apprehensive that even 

 the bare mention of it might be considered by them as a 

 piece of shocking impiety. In this, however, I found 

 myself mistaken. Not the smallest surprise was expressed 

 at the application, and the wood was readily given, even 

 without stipulating for anything in return. 



" Terreeoboo and his chiefs had, for some days past, been 

 very inquisitive about the time of our departure. This 

 circumstance had excited in me a great curiosity to know 

 what opinion this people had formed of us, and what were 

 their ideas respecting the cause and objects of our voyage. 

 I took some pains to satisfy myself on these points, but 

 could never learn anything farther than that they imagined 

 we came from some country where provisions had failed, 

 and that our visit to them was merely for the purpose of 

 filling our bellies. Indeed, the meagre appearance of some 

 of our crew, the hearty appetites with which we sat down 

 to their fresh provisions, and our great anxiety to purchase 

 and carry off as much as we were able, led them naturally 

 enough to such a conclusion. It was ridiculous enough to 

 see them stroking the sides and patting the bellies of the 

 sailors (who were certainly much improved in the sleekness 

 of their looks during our short stay in the island), and telling 



