132 



VOYAGE IN SEARCH 



The liland of Manima affords a foil little cul- 

 tivated : however, we favv there a few planta- 

 tions of yams, cocoa-palms and plantain-trees. 



After having crolTed a channel as Ihallow as 

 the former, we arrived at Oneata. Wifhing to 

 examine the infide of a habitation conftructed 

 in a workman-like ftyle, we were greatly fur- 

 prifed to fee a chief, who, very gravely feated 

 in the middle of his houfe, was permitting an 

 individual belonging to our fliip to enjoy the 

 lall favour of one of the prettied girls in the 

 ifland. He offered us fome cocoa-nuts, and at 

 the fame time apprizing us, that he could not 

 let us drink their juice in the inlide of his 

 dwelling. We could never have imagined that 

 this witnefs of the exhibition, which we had juft 

 interrupted in his own houfe, would have been fo 

 intolerant towards perfons who came there only 

 to quench their thirft : however, we made a 

 point not to contradid: him. 



In the mean time two natives arrived, hold- 

 ing in their hands fome open and very ripe 

 cocoa-nutSj with which we faw them prepare a 

 dilli that they appeared to relifh exceedingly. 

 By means of fliells fixed into wooden handles, 

 they fcoopedout the kernels, whichthey bruifed 

 with a very hot fioiic, in order to reduce them 

 to the form of a pulp, to which they gave the 



confiftence 



