WHALING VOYAGE. 
869 
majesty and her royal brother had finished the two 
bottles of rum, they began to wax a little warm, and 
thinking that it was then our best time to request pos- 
session of the mats, we did so, but it was not without 
considerable solicitation that we obtained them. When 
soon afterwards we bid them adieu, and took our depar- 
ture for the ship, not a little interested with our adven- 
ture, which demonstrated to us the love they bore for 
mm, and the cunning faculties they possessed of con- 
cealing their strong desires, at least in ordinary instances. 
On the following morning I again visited the shore and 
saw the queen, who, directly she perceived me entering 
her house, began with uplifted eyes and hands to pray 
most vociferously, although at the same time another 
bottle of rum would have been most welcome to her, 
which she at one time appeared so religiously to despise. 
I however speedily bade this specimen of a savage reli- 
gious hypocrite farewell, for the captain having found 
that but a few sweet potatos could be obtained here, 
determined to pay a visit to Bolabola, an island of the 
same group, which was in sight, and at which we ex- 
pected to be more fortunate. 
At eleven a.m. we weighed anchor, and sailed half 
round the island, through the magnificent harbour I 
have before mentioned, during which time we were 
delighted with the richly picturesque views that every 
moment presented themselves. At one time we were 
close under the high and overhanging land, which ap- 
peared to be oppressed with the thick wood and rich 
and entangled foliage with which it is covered. In a 
r 2 
