THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
63 
built all liis arguments, and maintained, that Otoo had 1777. 
acted properly by waiting for me; though this had pre- , September ; 
vented his giving afliftance to Towha fo foon as he ex¬ 
pected. 
Our debates at Oparre, on this fubjeCt, were hardly end¬ 
ed, before a meffenger arrived from Towha, deliring Otoo’s 
attendance, the next day, at the moral in Attahooroo, to give 
thanks to the Gods for the peace he had concluded; at lead:, 
fuch was Omai’s account to me, of the objeCt of this folem- 
nity. I was alked to go; but being much out of order, 
was obliged to decline it. Defirous, however, of knowing 
what ceremonies might be obferved on fo memorable an 
occalion, I fent Mr. King, and Omai, and returned on board 
my drip, attended by Otoo’s mother, his three lifters, and 
eight more women. At fird, I thought that this numerous 
train of females came into my boat with no other view than 
to get a paffage to Matavai. But when we arrived at the 
Ihip, they told me, they intended palling the night on 
board, for the exprefs purpofe of undertaking the cure of 
the diforder I complained of; which was a pain of the 
rheumatic kind, extending from the hip to the foot. I ac¬ 
cepted the friendly offer, had a bed fpread for them upon 
the cabin floor, and fubmitted myfelf to their directions. 
I was delired to lay myfelf down amongft them. Then, as 
many of them as could get round me, began to fqueeze me 
with both hands, from head to foot, but more particularly 
on the parts where the pain was lodged, till they made my 
bones crack, and my flelh became a perfeCt mummy. In 
fhort, after undergoing this difcipline about a quarter of 
an hour, I was glad to get away from them. However, 
the operation gave me immediate relief, which encouraged 
me to fubmit to another rubbing-down before I went to 
v bed; 
