THE PELEW ISLANDS, 
179 
rain % holding by the canoe with one arm, and keeping it as 
it were at an anchor; but finding the rain continue after the 
thunder had ceafed, they made for the fhore, which having 
reached, the boatmen very expeditioufly kindled a fire, by 
rubbing two pieces of wood together. The Captain remark¬ 
ed, that at each flalli of lightning Raa Kook’s two wives, 
who were in the fame canoe with him, fheltered under his 
boat-cloak, muttered fomething that feemed to be a prayer 
or ejaculation; Raa Kook covered himfelf with his mat. 
About noon the weather cleared up, and they joined the 
King, who gave our people boiled fifii for dinner, fome- 
what refembling mullet. About one o’clock all landed; 
and the King and his retinue, with our people, walked up 
the country about a mile, to a town called Aramalorgoo, 
where was exhibited a dance of fpearmen ; after which 
the ufual fort of refrefhments were ferved to the com¬ 
pany. They then returned to their canoes, and came to a 
place called Emillegue, which appeared to be a difiin6t go¬ 
vernment, as a formal invitation came off from the Rupack , 
or Chief of that ifland, to folicit the company to land. It 
was a large town, fituated about a mile from the fea-fhore. 
The Rupack was a fat, good-looking, friendly old man; and, 
* Notwithftanding the natives bathed daily in frefli water, yet they all appeared to 
have a great diflike at being wetted by rain; it is probable the fpattering of it on their 
naked bodies might create an unpleafant fenfation. 
A a 2 by 
1783- 
OCTOBER, 
