2 gz 
A VOYAGE TO 
7 77 * conjectured, that, onfome account or another, they were, 
at this time, forbidden to ule water; or, which was more 
probable, they did not like the water we made ufe of, it be¬ 
ing taken up out of one of their bathing-places. This was 
not the only time of our meeting with people that were 
taboo avy ; but, for what reafon, we never could tell with 
any degree of certainty. 
Tuefday 17* Next clay, the 17th, was fixed upon by Mareewagee, for 
giving a grand Hazva, or entertainment; to which we were 
all invited. For this purpofe a large fpace had been cleared, 
before the temporary hut of this Chief, near our poll, as 
an area where the performances were to be exhibited. In 
the morning, great multitudes of the natives came in from 
the country, every one carrying a pole, about fix feet long, 
upon his fhoulder; and at each end of every pole, a yam 
was fufpended. Thefe yams and poles were depofited on 
each fide of the area, fo as to form two large heaps, deco¬ 
rated with different forts of lmall fifh, and piled up to the 
greatelt advantage. They were Mareewagee’s prefent to 
Captain Clerke and me ; and it was hard to fay, whether the 
wood for fuel, or the yams for food, were of moft value to 
us. As for the fifh, they might ferve to pleafe the fight, 
but were very offenfive to the fmell; part of them having 
been kept two or three days, to be prefented to us on this 
occafion. 
Every thing being thus prepared, about eleven o’clock 
they began to exhibit various dances, which they call mat. 
The mufic * confuted, at firft, of feventy men as a chorus, 
who fat down; and amidft them were placed three inftru- 
ments, which we called drums, though very unlike them. 
* Mr. Anderfon’s defcription of the entertainments of this day being much fuller than 
Captain Cook’s, it has been adopted as on a former occafion. 
They 
