1-20 REWA. 



which had a pretty effect. There are two doorways, one on each side : 

 these are only about three feet in height, and are closed by hanging 

 mats. At the inside of the principal door are two small cannons, pointed 

 across it, which, in the eyes of the king, give it a formidable appear- 

 ance The plan of the interior will show the disposition of this house. 

 A sort of dais was raised at one end, a few inches ; this was covered 

 with mats for the king and his wives, while at the other end mats 

 were laid for his attendants; above was a shelf for his property, or 

 riches, consisting of mats, tapa, earthenware, spears, and clubs. On 

 one side of the house, as is usual among the Feejeeans, the cooking- 

 place is excavated, a foot deep and about eight feet square ; this was 

 furnished with three large earthen pots, of native manufacture, and 

 two huge iron kettles, obtained from some whaling-ship, such as are 

 used for trying out oil. These were crammed with food. 



Some of our gentlemen entered a short time previous to Captain 

 Hudson's arrival, and found the king taking a meal, with his prin- 

 cipal wife beside him stretched out on a mat. All those around him 

 w _ ere sitting after the manner of the natives, for none presume to 

 stand or lie down in the presence of the king. When he had finished 

 eating and pushed the food from him, a general clapping of hands 

 took place, after which water was brought, and the cup held to his 

 mouth until he had done drinking, when clapping of hands again 

 ensued. This was repeated whenever the king finished doing any 

 thing — a piece of etiquette always observed with great strictness. 



On state occasions this ceremony is carried much farther : the 

 king's food at such times is passed around a large circle, until it 

 reaches his principal wife, who feeds him with her hands. Many of 

 the chiefs always require the ava-cup to be held to their mouths. 

 Notwithstanding all this ceremony, the chiefs, and the people sitting 

 around them, join familiarly in the conversation, and appear otherwise 

 perfectly at their ease. 



The king at once ordered provisions for his guests, for whom seats 

 were provided on a sea-chest. The principal article of food was the 

 salt beef he had received as a present from the ship, and which he 

 named bula-ma-kau. The origin of this name is not a little singular, 

 and is due to our countryman, Captain Egleston, who has been for 

 several years trading among this group. Wishing to confer a benefit 

 on these natives, he took on board a bull and cow at Tahiti, and 

 brought them to Rewa, where he presented them to the king. On 

 being asked the name of them, he said they were called " bull and 



