72 TUTUILA. 



wooden trays were brought in, filled with cooked bread-fruit and 

 covered over with leaves. One of these was placed before me, when 

 the king made a long speech, giving me welcome and offering food to 

 eat. I was then desired to hand some to the king and his brother, and 

 to others who were pointed out to me. This I did, but unfortunately 

 continued my task, and handed it to one of the Kanakas, or common 

 people, who were sitting close around us ; much displeasure was 

 evinced, accompanied with angry looks. I now looked around for 

 my men, but they were out of sight on their return to the boat. In 

 order to make the best of my situation, I asked what was meant, and 

 feigned to be quite ignorant of having given any offence. After a 

 minute they were apparently appeased, and pleasant looks were 

 restored. 



They handed round a shell containing cocoa-nut oil to dip the 

 bread-fruit in, and another containing salt water. After we had 

 eaten, they began a careful examination of my clothes, and appeared 

 much pleased with the buttons. My pocket-handkerchief was taken 

 out of my pocket, and spread on the mat to be examined by the king. 

 His brother took off my hat, and put it on the top of his large bushy 

 head. They then had ava made, of which I could not partake, after 

 seeing the process of making it. It is first chewed by the women 

 and thrown into a large bowl ; water is added to it, and it is then 

 strained through leaves. This was partaken of by them all, while 

 they gave me a fresh cocoa-nut. 



They were becoming more familiar every moment, and it was 

 getting late, so I thought it time to make a move. I therefore rose 

 up, and was followed by the natives, in number upwards of a hun- 

 dred, including the king and his brother, to the boat. I looked 

 carefully around for arms, but saw none among them. My boat was 

 aground : the king, his brother, and several others, got into it, saying 

 they must have some presents. They seemed disposed to resist, and 

 showed a determination to contest our getting off. I on the other 

 hand was determined to get rid of them, and peaceably if I could ; I 

 therefore ordered the boat's crew to arm themselves, and drive every 

 one of the natives from the boat, at the same time intimating to the 

 king to use his authority, which I found, however, existed only in 

 name. We thus succeeded in getting clear of the crowd, until we 

 had no more than eight left; to each of these I presented a small fish- 

 hook, and ordered them to get into the water, which was about a foot 

 deep, and go ; this they did, one by one. At last came the king and 



