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in the fame manner with their cloaks. Their eyes were made of large pearl oyfters,with a black nut fixed in the centre; their mouths were fet with a double row of thefangs of dogs, and together with the reft of their features, were ftrangely diftorted.The third canoe was filled with hogs and various forts of vegetables. As they wentalong, the priefts in the centre canoe fung their hymns with great folemnity; and afterpaddling round the (hips, inftead of going on board as was expedted, they made towardthe jhore at the beach where we were ftationed.
As foon as I faw them approaching, I ordered out our little guard to receive theKing ; and Captain Cook , perceiving that he was going on ihore, followed him, andarrived nearly at the fame time. We conducted them into the tent, where the hadfcarcely been feated, when the King rofe up, and in a very graceful manner threw overthe captain’s Ihoulders the cloak he himfelf wore, put a feathered helmet upon hishead, and a curious fan into his hand, He alfo fpread at his feet five or fix other cloaks,all exceedingly beautiful, and of the greateft value. His attendants then brought fourvery large hogs, with fugar-canes, cocoa-nuts, and bread-fruit; and this part of theceremony was concluded by the King’s exchanging names with Captain Cook , which,amongft all the iflanders of the Pacific Ocean , is efteemed the ftrongeft pledge offriendship. A proceflion of priefts, with a venerable old perfonage at their head, now'appeared, followed by a long train of men leading large hogs, and others carryingplantains, fweet potatoes, &c. By the looks and geftures of Kaireekeea, 1 immediatelyknew the old man to be the chief of'the priefts before mentioned, on whofe bountywe had fo long fubfifted. He had a piece of red cloth in his hands, which he wrappedround Captain Cook ’s Ihoulders, and afterward prefented him with a fmall pig inthe ufual form. A feat was then made for him, next to the King, after which,Kaireekeea and his followers began their ceremonies, Kaoo and the chiefs joined inthe refponfes.
As foon as the formalities of the meeting were over, Captain Cook carried Terree-oboo, and as many chiefs as the pinnace could hold, on board the Refolution. Theyw r ere received with every mark of refpect that could be Ihewn them; and CaptainCook , in return for the feathered cloak, put a linen fliirt on the King, and girt hisown hanger round him. The ancient Kaoo, and about half a dozen more old chiefs*remained on Ihore, and took up their abode at the priefts’ houfes. During all thistime not a canoe was feen in the bay, and the natives either kept within their huts, oxlay proftrate on the ground. Before the King left the Refolution, Captain Cook ob-tained leave for the natives, to come and trade with the {hips as ufual; but the women*for what reafon we could not learn, ftill continued under the effedts of the taboo*that is, were forbidden to ftir from home, or to have any communication with us.
The quiet and inoffenfive behaviour of the natives having taken away every app re 'henfion of danger, we did not hefitate to truft ourfelves amongft them at all times, anin all fituations. The officers of both {hips went daily up the country in fmall parties*or even fingly, and frequently remained out the whole night. It would be endleto recount all the inftances of kindnefs and civility which we received upon thooccafions. Wherever we went, the people flocked about us, eager to offer everyaffiftance in their power, and highly gratified if their fervices were accepted. Variolittle arts were pradtifed to attradf our notice, or to delay our departure. T-he boyand girls ran before, as ive walked through their villages, and {topped us at eve ^opening, where there was room to form a groupe for dancing. At one time we winvited to accept a draught of cocoa-nut milk, or fome other refrefhment, undex^