THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
345 
I afterward walked out, and vifited feveral other Chiefs; 1777. 
and found, that all of them were taking their morning 
draught, or had already taken it. Returning to the king, I 
found him alleep in a fmall retired hut, with two women 
tapping on his breech. About eleven o’clock he arofe 
again ; and then fome fifh and yams, which tailed as if 
they had been Hewed in cocoa-nut milk, were brought to 
him. Of thefe he eat a large portion, and lay down once 
more to lleep. I now left him, and carried to the prince 
a prefent of cloth, beads, and other articles, which I had 
brought with me from the fhip for the purpofe. There 
was a fufhcient quantity of cloth to make him a complete 
fuit; and he was immediately decked out with it. Proud 
of his drefs, he frit went to fhew himfelf to his father; 
and then conducted me to his mother; with whom were 
about ten or a dozen other women of a refpeCtable ap¬ 
pearance. Here the prince changed his apparel, and made 
me a prefent of two pieces of the cloth manufactured in the 
ill and. By this time, it was pall noon, when, by appoint¬ 
ment, I repaired to the palace to dinner. Several of our 
gentlemen had returned, this morning, from the fhips ; and 
we were all invited to the feaft, which was prefently ferved 
up, and conlifted of two pigs and yams. I roufed the drowfy 
monarch, to partake of what he had provided for our enter¬ 
tainment. In the mean time, two mullets, and fome fhell- 
fifh, were brought to him, as I fuppofed, for his feparate 
portion. But he joined it to our fare, fat dow r n with us, 
and made a hearty meal. 
When dinner was over, we were told that the ceremony 
would foon begin; and were ftriClly enjoined not to walk 
out. I had refolved, however, to peep no longer from 
behind the curtain, but to mix with the aCtors themfelves, 
Vol. I. Y y if 
