PACIFIC AND BEERING’S STRAIT. 
75 
Dec. 
1825 . 
portion upon ; and but few of the natives were obliged to substitute chap 
leir fingers for articles which are indispensable to the comfort of 
inore polished life. The smoking pig, by a skilful dissection, was soon 
portioned to every guest, but no one ventured to put its excellent 
finalities to the test until a lengthened Amen, pronounced by all the 
party, had succeeded an emphatic grace delivered by the village parson. 
'' Turn to'' was then the signal for attack, and as it is convenient that 
the party should finish their meal about the same time, in order 
that one grace might serve for all, each made the most of his time, 
n Pitcairn’s Island it is not deemed proper to touch even a bit of 
read without a grace before and after it, and a person is accused of 
inconsistency if he leaves off and begins again. So strict is their ob- 
servance of this form, that we do not know of any instance in which it 
s be^en forgotten. On one occasion I had engaged Adams in con- 
versation, and he incautiously took the first mouthful without having 
said his grace ; but before he had swallowed it, he recollected himself, 
an feeling as if he had committed a crime, immediately put away 
nat he had in his mouth, and commenced his prayer. 
cheer, hospitality, and good-humour, were the cha- 
J beneficial influence more 
ac ica y exemplified than on this occasion, by the demolition of 
early all that was placed before us. With the exception of some 
me we had brought with us, water was the only beverage. This was 
P aced m a pitcher at one end of the board, and when necessary, was 
passed round the table—a ceremony at which, in Pitcairn’s Island in 
desirable to be the first partaker, as the gravy of the 
s IS invariably mingled with the stream ; the natives, who prefer 
usinj, t eir ngers to forks, being quite indifferent whether they hold 
Ae vessel b, the handle or by the spout. Three or four torchesAnade 
doodoe nuts (akurue, triloba), strung upon the fibres of a palm 
leaf, were Stuck m tin pots at the end of the table, and formed an ex 
cellent substitute for candles, except that they gave a conshlo w 
eat, and cracked, and fired, somewhat to the discomfiture of the peraon 
''hose face was near them. peison 
Notwithstanding these deficiencies, we made a very comfortable 
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