30 



BOWDITCH ISLAND. 



their friends and acquaintances of rank did not omit to pay them fre- 

 quent visits. Among these was old Pea of Apia, Mole, and others. 

 These calls ought to have been termed begging visits, as they seldom 

 saw a thing that pleased them that they did not ask for. Mole brought 

 a complaint to Captain Hudson, of an outrage by a white vagabond 

 on shore; but it was shrewdly suspected that, notwithstanding his 

 being a missionary teacher, his design was to get more presents from 

 his parting friends. 



On the 23d, Captain Hudson was visited by Matetau, the cele- 

 brated war-chief of Manono. Jn coming to the ship, he and his 

 numerous retinue were overtaken by a violent shower of rain, which 

 completely wet them. As the old chief was somewhat chilled and 

 cold, Captain Hudson supplied him with a clean and dry shirt. He 

 professed himself delighted ; all was " very good," captain, officers, 

 and ship. His visit, like that of all the other chiefs, was evidently 

 to receive his quantum of presents, and hence his desire to make 

 himself as agreeable as possible. His features were more strongly 

 marked than those of the islanders usually are; he is above the 

 middle size, has an aquiline nose, and a high and retreating fore- 

 head, with the frontal portion narrow, but widening behind the ears, 

 having, as some thought, a strong resemblance to the chiefs of New 

 Zealand. Mr. Agaie succeeded in getting a good sketch of him. 



w iwfi'iKp 



/ 



MATETAU. 



He adopted the usual Samoan custom of pleasing by flattery, gri- 

 maces, and gesticulations, enacting, as was thought, a fight. He had 

 picked up a few words of English, which he did not fail to make use 

 of to attract attention. Owing to the necessity of getting under way, 



