4§ 
A VOYAGE TO 
1777. England, upon the greateft man, if he killed the meaneft 
^'.ptember. fervant, they feemed to liften with great attention ; and 
were, probably, of a different opinion from that of their 
mafter, on this fubjedl. 
After leaving Towha, we proceeded to Oparre, where 
Otoo preffed ns to fpend the night. We landed in the 
evening; and, on our road to his houfe, had an opportu¬ 
nity of oblerving in what manner thefe people amufe 
themfelves, in their private heevas. About a hundred of 
them were found fitting in a houfe; and in the midft of 
them were two women, with an old man behind each 
of them, beating very gently upon a drum; and the w'o- 
men, at intervals, finging in a fofter manner, than I ever 
heard at their other diverfions. The affembly liftened with 
great attention; and were, feemingly, almoft abforbed in 
the pleafure the mufic gave them; for few took any notice 
of us, and the performers never once flopped. It was al¬ 
moft dark before we reached Otoo’s houfe, where we were 
entertained with one of their public heevas , or plays, in 
which his three fillers appeared as the principal charadlers. 
This was what they call a beeva rad , which is of fuch a na¬ 
ture, that nobody is to enter the houfe or area, where it is 
exhibited. When the royal fillers are the performers, this 
is always the cafe. Their drefs, on this occafion, was truly 
pidturefque and elegant; and they acquitted themfelves, in 
their parts, in a very diftinguilhed manner; though fome 
comic interludes, performed by four men, feemed to yield 
greater pleafure to the audience, which was numerous. 
Wednef. 3. The next morning we proceeded to Matavai, leaving Otoo 
at Oparre; but his mother, fillers, and feveral other wo¬ 
men, attended me on board, and Otoo himfelf followed foon 
after. 
While 
