THE PE LEW ISLANDS. 
being not found fufficiently fo, it was rafped away, till 
judged to be wide enough, when Raa Kook, the Chief 
Minijier , and all the Rupacks , proceeded to the inveftmenf, 
in the following manner : — The General made a firing 
faft to each of the fingers of the Captain’s left-hand, and 
then lubricating the hand with oil, the Chief Minijier 
placed himfelf behind the Captain, holding him faft by 
the fhoulders ; Raa Kook then paffed the different firings 
through the Bone , and giving them to another Rupack , 
they endeavoured to draw his hand through ; Raa Kook 
at the fame time, with his own hand, comprefling that of 
the Captain into the fmalleft compafs he poflibly could, fo 
that the Bone might pafs over the joints. During this the 
moft profound filence was preferved, both by the Rupacks 
who aflifted, and the people who attended as fpedlators, 
except by the King, who occaftonally fuggefted in what 
manner they might facilitate the operation. The point 
being at laft obtained, and the hand fairly paffed through, 
the whole affembly exprefled great joy. Abba Thulle 
then addrefling Captain Wilson, told him, that the Bone 
Jhould be rubbed bright every day , and preferved as a teflimony 
of the rank he held amongfi them ; that this mark of dignity 
mufti on every occafoni be defended valiantly^ nor fujfered to be 
torn from his arm but with the lofs of life . 
The ceremony ended, all the Rupacks congratulated Cap¬ 
tain Wilson on his being one of their order ; and the in- 
H h 2, ferior 
2 3 S 
1783. 
NOVEMBER. 
