372 
SOUTH SEA 
(earth), which, as he knew I was a “ cowka (doctor), 
disconcerted him very much. Although our conversation 
was carried on in a mixture of languages, we managed 
to understand each other pretty well, for the words used 
above belong more to the Sandwich Island than the 
Bolabola English. 
By this time I found myself encircled by as grim- 
looking a set of beings as I had ever yet seen ; those who 
could get the three-legged seats to make use of, did so, 
while those who could not, squatted down upon the 
ground. I appeared a mere pigmy to them ; even while 
we were sitting, their ponderous heads rose above mine 
considerably, while their broad chests and shoulders 
denoted enormous strength. The old chief, with whom 
I had commenced the conversation, and who at his 
first entrance into the king’s house appeared so jovial, 
and whose huge and somewhat rosy face was glistening 
with perspiration, now lost all his animation ; his coun- 
tenance, which only a short time before was full of 
“ quips and cranks and wanton wiles,” had now assumed 
an amazing length, and he appeared overshadowed with 
gloom ; when, rising with that melancholy appearance 
which is sometimes seen in particular states of intoxica- 
tion, he staggered slowly from the house, until his giant 
frame was lost to view in the darkness of the night. 
The others, one by one, took their departure soon 
after, as it was growing late, when I had a better oppor- 
tunity of holding a little conversation with his majesty, 
during which he frequently urged me to leave the ship 
and stay with him ; saying that he would give me a very 
