846 
MISSIONARY TOUR 
the number of their songs, and exceed the Society 
Islanders ; but their conversational powers are inferior 
to those of the latter, who are perhaps the most loqua¬ 
cious of them all. An acquaintance with every body's 
business used almost to be cultivated as an accom¬ 
plishment ; and inquiries, which to us would appear 
most officious, were only common civilities. To meet 
a party, and not ask where they came from, or where 
they were going, what was their business, and when 
they intended to return, would be considered indicative 
of displeasure towards the party thus neglected, or at 
least of want of interest in their welfare. 
Our hostess, who was a widow, treated us kindly, 
and between seven and eight brought in for supper a 
small baked pig, and a large dish of taro. This was 
the more grateful, as it had not been required by Ma- 
koa in the governor’s name, but was furnished by the 
genuine hospitality which characterizes the South Sea 
Islanders, though not practised so much by the Ha- 
waiians as by some other tribes in the Pacific, and we 
believe much less now than when the Sandwich Islands 
were first discovered, or during the earlier visits they 
received. 
They are still, however, a hospitable people, and 
even the poorest would generally share their scanty 
dish of potatoes with a stranger. Not to entertain a 
guest with what they have, is, among themselves, con¬ 
sidered reproachful; and there are many, who, if they 
had but one pig or fowl in the yard’, or one root of 
potatoes in the garden, would cheerfully take them to 
furnish a repast for a friend. This generous disposition 
is frequently abused, and encourages the rambling man¬ 
ner of life of which many are so fond. It is not unusual 
