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PUBLIC FESTIVALS

“ spirit, and would certainly have given each“ other a good drubbing, if two old women had“not interposed to part them*. All these“ combats were exhibited in the midst of, at“ least, three thousand people, and were con-“ ducted with the greatest good humour on all“ sides; though some of the champions,’women“ as well as men, received blows which doubt-“ less they must have felt for some time after.

“ As soon as these diversions were ended,“ the chiefs told me that the heaps of provi*“ sions on our right hand were a present to“ Omai, and that those on our left hand, being“ about two thirds of the whole quantity, were“ given to me. He added, that I might take“ them on board whenever it was convenient,“ but that there would be no occasion to set“ any of our people as guards over them, as I“ might be assured that not a single cocoa-nut“ would be taken away by the natives. So it“ proved, for I left every thing behind and re-“ turned to the ship to dinner, carrying the“ chief with me, and when the provisions wereu removed on board in the afternoon, not a sin-“ gle article was missing. . There was as much“ as loaded four boats, and I could not but be“ struck with the munificence of Feenow, for

The women are always soon parted.