122 REWA. 



tions keep time to the song. The king joined occasionally in the 

 song ; and when any important stage of the operation was arrived at, 

 the song ceased, and a clapping of hands ensued. As each cup was 

 filled to be served out, the ambati sitting near uttered the same wild 

 howl as before. The first cup is filled from another, that answers 

 both for dipper and funnel, having a hole in it, over which he who 

 brews the ava places his finger when dipping, and then withdrawing 

 it, lets the liquid run out in a stream. They are very particular to 

 see that no one touches the king's cup except the cupbearer. 



On the present occasion, a worthless Englishman, by the name of 

 James Housman, called Jim or Jimmy, officiated. Few would have 

 distinguished him from a native, so closely was he assimilated to 

 them in ideas and feelings, as well as in his crouching before the 

 chiefs, his mode of sitting, and slovenly walk. On the king's finish- 

 ing drinking, there was a general clapping of hands; but when the 

 lower order of chiefs were served, this was not observed, and in 

 lieu of it, there was a general exclamation of " Sa madaa," (it is " 

 empty.) After ava, the king rinses his mouth, lights his cigar or 

 pipe, and lolls on his mat. It was laughable to see the king's barber 

 take his ava; as he is not allowed to touch any thing with his hands, 

 it becomes necessary that the cup shall be held for him by another 

 person, who also feeds him. One of the officers gave him a cigar, 

 which was lighted and put in his mouth, and when he wished to 

 remove it, he did it in a very ingenious manner by twisting a small 

 twig around it. 



The king made many inquiries, spoke of his riches, his patent rifle, 

 and the feast he intended to give; but he wanted a double-barrelled 

 gun. He likewise spoke of being desirous of sending his two little 

 girls (the only children he has) to the missionary school, but their 

 attendants (they have male nurses) were such thieves they would 

 steal every thing they could lay their hands on from the missionaries, 

 and in this way would give him a great deal of trouble. Captain 

 Hudson induced him to promise to build the missionaries comfortable 

 houses, as soon as the weather became good and he had received his 

 tribute from Kantavu. He spoke kindly of the missionaries, and 

 seemed well satisfied that their object was to do himself and his 

 people good. The king ordered his household to chaunt a kind of 

 song, for the amusement of his guests, the subject of which was the 

 adventures of a chief on a voyage, after leaving his wife, and her reso- 

 lution to destroy herself in consequence of his failing to return. 



