154 FESTIVE OCCASIONS. 
among themselves what each person's proportion 
of the captain's wants amounts to. This being 
settled, each repairs to his own plantation to pro- 
cure his part, which, in every instance, is, as far 
as possible, an equal share from each family. 
Such is the reliance placed by visitors on the 
honesty and integrity of the islanders, that in no 
case does the captain think it necessary, either 
himself, or by proxy, to Ibe present at the weigh- 
ing or measuring of the articles required. One 
of the islanders is appointed to remain at the 
market-place, to take an account of the things 
sent on board; and the mode of dealing is 
always cheerfully acceded to by the authorities 
of the vessel. The articles are removed from 
the market-place to Bounty Bay, where they 
are deposited, at the captain's risk, and from 
whence they are conveyed in boats ; or, if the 
surf is heavy, the goods are packed in casks, 
which are conducted by the natives, who swim 
with them through the heavy surf to the boats 
lying outside the broken water. 
It is the custom on festive occasions, when 
the captain and his friends from the ship are 
entertained at dinner, for the women to attend 
upon the party at table. This is the exception 
to the general rule ; as, usually, when there are 
no visitors, the men and women in a family 
sit down together. But the attendance of the 
females on strangers, and on their own relatives, 
has been misapprehended by some travellers as 
a mark of barbarism. Now, there must be some 
to wait ; strangers must be hospitably served ; 
and the younger women do these honours of 
