382 A CHIEF'S DINNER. 



sometimes four, small human figures, in various attitudes. 

 Some of them rest on the hands of their supporters, extended 

 over the head ; others on the head and hands ; and some on 

 the shoulders." These figures are said to have been "ac- 

 curately proportioned and neatly finished, and even the 

 anatomy of the muscles, in supporting the weight, well 

 expressed/ 5 * 



Captain Cookf gives an interesting description of the 

 manner in which the chiefs dined. They had no table, and 

 each person ate alone and in silence. Some leaves were spread 

 on the ground to serve as a tablecloth, and a basket was set by 

 the chief containing his provision, which, if fish or flesh, was 

 ready dressed and wrapped in leaves. Two cocoa-nut shells 

 were put by the side, one containing salt water and the other 

 fresh. He first washed his hands and mouth thoroughly 

 with the fresh water, and this " he repeats almost continually 

 through the meal. He then takes part of his provision out 

 of the basket, which generally consists of a small fish or two, 

 two or three bread-fruits, fourteen or fifteen ripe bananas, or 

 six or seven apples." He began by eating some bread-fruit, 

 at the same time breaking one of the fishes into the salt 

 water. He then took up the bits of fish in his fingers, in 

 such a manner as to get with it as much salt water as 

 possible, and very frequently he took a mouthful of the salt 

 water, either out of the cocoa-nut or in his hand. Sometimes 

 also he drank the juice of a cocoa-nut. When he had done 

 his bread-fruit and fish, he began his plantains or apples, 

 after which he ate some more bread-fruit, beaten into a sort 

 of paste and generally flavored with some banana or some 

 other fruit. For a knife he used either a shell or a piece of 

 split bamboo, and in conclusion he again washed his hands 

 and mouth. They were quite unacquainted with forks, and 



* Third Voyage, vol. iii., p. 148. f First Voyage, vol. ii., p. 200. 



