with large bunches of beautiful red feathers; and although this constituted the only distinction between him and the rest of the natives, the English supposed him to be a chief, from the readiness and alacrity with which he was obeyed by his people, and from the respect with which he was treated by those who sat around his mat, and who desired Captain Cook to salute him. BEVAN. By touching his nose, I suppose, mamma. MRS. A. Yes; for this is a common practice among the South-sea Islanders. As soon as this ceremony was concluded, the English were again led forwards, amongst men armed with clubs, until they came to a second chief, who was ornamented in the same manner as the first, and who likewise sat fanning himself on the ground. They were then conducted to a third chief, who was also adorned with scarlet feathers; and when they had saluted him, as they had done the others, he desired them to sit down. To this they readily assented, and the chief, on observing that Captain Cook looked rather warm and fatigued, obligingly ordered a fan to be brought, and began to fan him himself. BEVAN. That was very kind and conde scending in a chief. But could they Did talk to each other, mamma? the English understand the language spoken in the island? MRS. A. - No: their communications were made by signs, except what they could obtain through the medium of a man named Omai, whom they had brought with them from one of the neighbouring isles to act as an interpreter, as he had learnt a little English. A few minutes after Captain Cook and his company had seated themselves, the people were ordered to separate; and about twenty young women, whose long black hair flowed in ringlets down their necks, and whose dress consisted of a piece of glazed cloth fastened round the waist, came forwards and began to dance the usual dance of the country, moving their hands about very quickly, and occasionally clapping them and singing in chorus. BEVAN. I suppose this was done to amuse the English. The curiosity they evinced to know more of the white strangers, afforded them great amusement. They were, not content with merely looking at them, but separated them from each other, and formed little circles round each individual, that they might gaze at him, without interruption, as long as they pleased; and even the trees, as well as the roofs of the neighbouring huts, were thronged with people assembled on the occasion. Their manners were extremely simple and unaffected; and on hearing from Omai that Captain Cook was tired of being looked at, as they had kept him apart from his company for more than an hour, to gratify their excessive curiosity, they endeavoured to give him a proof of their friendship by cutting down some green boughs, and sticking them in the ground before him, in order that he might touch them, as they had previously done. They also informed him, by signs, that he must not go away until he had had something to eat. One of the chiefs, to whom he had been introduced in the morning, then seated himself on a low stool of black wood, and having directed the multitude to form themselves into a large circle, requested his guests to sit down in the middle. A number of cocoa-nuts were then brought, and a long, green basket, full of fine plantains; as well as a little pig, which had been baked on the occasion, in a hole dug in the |