THE PELEW ISLANDS. 
houfes being fo well thatched, that the weather rarely is 
able to penetrate them. 
Raa Kook called on them very early in the morning; in 
all his vilits he wore on his countenance fuch a look of good- 
humour and congratulation as more than told our people he 
rejoiced to fee them.—He never feated himfelf clofe, but at 
fome fmall diftance from them, which is regarded in thefe 
parts as a mark of refpedt.—He told them he was going to 
bathe, and they went down to the fhore to fee if their boat 
and its iron-work was fafe.—On their return, the Captain and 
his companions received a meffage to breakfaft with the 
King.—-They were conduced to the houfe where, the pre¬ 
ceding evening, they had been to pay their refpe&rs to the 
Queen. It conftfted of one great room, not boarded on the 
floor, as is the ufual cuftom there, but covered with bam¬ 
boos laid and fattened down collaterally, with fcarce any 
fpace between.—At one end of this room was the kitchen, 
where the fervants were butted in preparing breakfaft, but 
without any partition to feparate the kitchen.—At the oppo- 
ftte end ran a high rail, with a large mat loofely laid over it. 
— Some attendants who were prefent, deflred our people 
to feat themfelves; which, when they had done, the King 
pulled down the mat, and difcovered himfelf and the Queen 
feated behind it. — As this trifling ceremony had fome- 
what of an air of ftate that had never been fhewn before, 
nor was on any future occafton exercifed, they fufpe&ed that 
• this 
109 
1783- 
SEPTEMBER. 
Monday 1. 
