286 
A VOYAGE TO 
1777. large canopy of the finer fort of cloth ; with a piece of the 
coarfer fort, fpread under them and before them, that was 
feventy-fix yards long, and feven and a half broad. On one 
fide was a large old boar ; and on the other fide a heap of 
cocoa-nuts. A number of people were feated round the 
cloth; and, amongft them, I obferved Mareewagee, and 
others of the firft rank. I was defired to fit down by the 
prince; and then Omai informed me, that he had been in- 
ftru£ted by the king to tell me, that, as he and I were friends, 
he hoped that his fon might be joined in this friendfbip; 
and that, as a token of my confent, I would accept of his 
prefent. I very readily agreed to the propofal; and, it being 
now dinner-time, I invited them all on board. 
Accordingly, the young prince, Mareewagee, old Toobou, 
three or four inferior Chiefs, and two refpedlable old ladies 
of the firft rank, accompanied me. Mareewagee was drefled 
in a new piece of cloth, on the fkirts of which were fixed 
fix pretty large patches of red feathers. This drefs feemed 
to have been made, on purpofe, for this vifit; for, as foon 
as he got on board, he put it off, and prefented it to me; 
having, I guefs, heard that it would be acceptable, on ac¬ 
count of the feathers. Every one of my vifiters received 
from me fuch prefents, as, I had reafon to believe, they were 
highly fatisfied with. When dinner came upon table, not 
one of them would fit down, or eat a bit of any thing that 
was ferved up. On exprefling my furprize at this, they 
were all taboo, as they faid; which word has a very com- 
prehenfive meaning; but, in general, fignifies that a thing 
is forbidden. Why they were laid under fuch reftraints, at 
prefent, was not explained. Dinner being over, and, having 
gratified their curiofity, by fhewing to them every part of 
the fhip, I then conducted them afhore. 
As 
