REWA. 137 



performers arranged themselves in two ranks, and went through 

 various movements, with their bodies, heads, arms, and feet, keeping 

 time to a song in a high monotonous key, in which the whole joined, 

 the ranks occasionally changing places, those in the rear occupying 

 the front, and the others retiring behind. 



The inferior chiefs were provided with a sail under the half-deck ; 

 the king, queen, and their little daughter, were accommodated by 

 Captain Hudson in his cabin. The king having expressed a desire 

 to have his evening draught of ava, some of the piper mythisticum, 

 from which it is made, was fortunately found among the botanical 

 specimens which had been collected, and a large and well-polished 

 dish-cover was converted into an ava-bowl. The ava was accordingly 

 brewed, and all the usual ceremonies gone through with, even to the 

 king's having his own cup-bea:er, Jimmy Housman, who was one of 

 the party. 



After the ava was over, theatricals were resorted to for the amuse- 

 ment of their majesties. This was a business in which many of 

 the crew of the Peacock were proficients, having been in the habit of 

 amusing themselves in this way. Jim Crow was the first piece, and 

 well personated, both in appearance and song, by Oliver, the ship's 

 tailor. This representation did not fail to amuse the audience ex- 

 ceedingly, and greatly astonished their majesties. Jim Crow's 

 appearance, on the back of a jackass, was truly comical : the ass was 

 enacted by two men in a kneeling posture, with their posteriors in 

 contact ; the body of the animal was formed of clothing ; four iron 

 belaying-pins served it for feet ; a ship's swab for its tail, and a pair 

 of old shoes for its ears, with a blanket as a covering. The walking 

 of the mimic quadruped about the deck, with its comical-looking 

 rider, and the audience, half civilized, half savage, gave the whole 

 scene a very remarkable effect. The king confessed that if he 

 had been alone, he would be much frightened at the curvetting 

 and braying of the beast before him. The queen, on its being ex- 

 plained to her that what she saw was only two men, expressed the 

 greatest astonishment in her eager, incredulous look. The dance of 

 " Juba" came off well, through the exertions of Howard and Shep- 

 herd, but the braying ass of Godwin, with the Jim Crow of Oliver, 

 will long be remembered by their savage as well as civilized spec- 

 tators. The whole company seemed contented and happy ; the king 

 had his extra bowl of ava, the queen and chiefs their tea and 

 supper ; and all enjoyed their cigars, of which they smoked a great 

 number. On Captain Hudson expressing to the king his hope that 



vol. in. 35 



