THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
9 
putrid hog, could not fwallow a morfel; and his reluctance, 
as may be fuppofed, was not diminifhed, when the old man, 
according to his own mode of civility, had chewed it for 
him. 
When this laffc ceremony was finifhed, which Captain 
Cook put an end to as foon as he decently could, we quitted 
the Moral , after diftributing amongft the people fome pieces 
of iron and other trifles, with which they feemed highly 
gratified. The men with wands conducted us to the boats, 
repeating the fame words as before. The people again re¬ 
tired, and the few that remained, proftrated themfelves as 
we paffed along the fhore. We immediately went on board, 
our minds full of what we had feen, and extremely well 
fatisfied with the good difpofition of our new friends. The 
meaning of the various ceremonies, with which we had 
been received, and which, on account of their novelty and 
fingularity, have been related at length, can only be the 
fubjeCt of conjectures, and thofe uncertain and partial: 
they were, however, without doubt, expreflive of high re- 
fpeCt on the part of the natives ; and, as far as related to 
the perfon of Captain Cook, they feemed approaching to 
adoration. 
The next morning, I went on fhore with a guard of eight 
marines, including the corporal and lieutenant, having or¬ 
ders to ereCt the obfervatory in fuch a lituation as might 
belt enable me to fuperintend and protect the waterers, and 
the other working parties that were to be on fhore. As 
we were viewing a fpot conveniently fituated for this pur- 
pofe, in the middle of the village, Pareea, who was always 
ready to fhew both his power and his good-will, offered to 
pull down fome houfes that would have obflruCled our ob- 
fervations. However, we thought it proper to decline this 
Vol. III. C . offer, 
1779. 
January. 
1 "* ui? 
Monday 18. 
