THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 6 g 
oecafion. The plantain tree, fo often mentioned, is always 1777. 
the firft thing introduced, not only in all their religious ce- , s ^ pte ^ ber '. 
remonies, but in all their debates, w T hether of a public or 
private nature. It is alfo ufed on other occalions ; perhaps 
many more than we know of. While Towha was at Eimeo, 
one or more meflengers came from him to Otoo every day. 
The meffenger always came with a young plantain tree in 
his hand, which he laid down at Otoo’s feet, before he fpoke 
a word; then feated himfelf before him, and related what 
he was charged with. I have feen tw T o men in fuch high 
difpute that I expedled they would proceed to blows ; yet? 
on one laying a plantain tree before the other, they have 
both become cool, and carried on the argument without 
farther animolity. In fhort, it is, upon all occalions, the 
olive-branch of thefe people. 
The war with Eimeo, and the folemn rites which were 
the confequence of it, being thus finally clofed, all our 
friends paid us a vifit on the 26th; and, as they knew that Friday 26. 
we were upon the point of failing, brought with them more 
hogs than we could take off their hands. For, having no 
fait left, to preferve any, we wanted no more than for pre- 
fent ufe. 
The next day, I accompanied Otoo to Oparre; and, before Saturday 27, 
I left it, I looked at the cattle and poultry, which I had con- 
figned to my friend’s care, at that place. Every thing was 
in a promifing way; and properly attended unto. Two of 
the geefe, and two of the ducks were fitting; but the pea 
and turkey hens had not begun to lay. I got from Otoo 
four goats ; two. of which I intended to leave at Ulietea, 
where none had as yet been introduced; and the other two, 
I propofed to referve for the ufe of any other iflands I might 
meet with, in my paffage to the North, 
A circum- 
