veral parts with as much
exactness as the men. Toward the end, the performers divided to leave
room for two champions, who exercised their clubs, as described on a
former occasion. And, in the third dance, which was the last now
presented, two more men, with their clubs, displayed their dexterity.
The dances were succeeded by wrestling and boxing; and one man entered
the lists with a sort of club, made from the stem of a cocoa-leaf, which
is firm and heavy; but could find no antagonist to engage him at so
rough a sport. At night we had the _bomai_ repeated; in which Poulaho
himself danced, dressed in English manufacture. But neither these, nor
the dances in the daytime, were so considerable, nor carried on with so
much spirit, as Feenou's, or Mareewagee's; and, therefore, there is less
occasion to be more particular in our description of them.

In order to be present the whole time, I dined ashore. The king sat down
with us, but he neither ate nor drank. I found that this was owing to
the presence of a female, whom, at his desire, I had admitted to the
dining-party; and who, as we afterward understood, had superior rank to
himself. As soon as this great personage had dined, she stepped up to
the king, who put his hands to her feet, and then she retired. He
immediately dipped his fingers into a glass of wine, and then received
the obeisance of all her followers. This was the single instance we
ever observed of his paying this mark of reverence to any person. At the
king's desire, I ordered some fire-works to be played off in the
evening; but, unfortunately, being damaged; this exhibition did not
answer expectation.

SECTION VIII.

_Some of the Officers plundered by the Natives.--A fishing Party.--A
Visit to Poulaho.--A Fiatooka described.--Observations on the Country
Entertainments at Poulaho's House.--His Mourning Ceremony.--Of the Kava
Plant, and the Manner of preparing the Liquor.--Account of Onevy, a
little Island.--One of the Natives wounded by a Sentinel.--Messrs King
and Anderson visit the Kings Brother.--Their Entertainment.--Another
Mourning Ceremony.--Manner of passing the Night.--Remarks on the Country
they passed through.--Preparations made for Sailing.--An Eclipse of the
Sun, imperfectly observed.--Mr Anderson's Account of the Island, and its
Productions_.

As no more entertainments were to be expected on either side, and the
curiosity of the populace was, by this time, pretty well satisfied, on
the