returned from our walk, which was not till the dusk of the
evening, our supper was ready. It consisted of a baked hog, some fish,
and yams, all excellently well cooked, after the method of these
islands. As there was nothing to amuse us after supper, we followed the
custom of the country, and lay down to sleep, our beds being mats spread
upon the floor, and cloth to cover us. The king, who had made himself
very happy with some wine and brandy which we had brought, slept in the
same house, as well as several others of the natives. Long before
day-break, he and they all rose, and sat conversing by moon-light. The
conversation, as might well be guessed, turned wholly upon us; the king
entertaining his company with an account of what he had seen, or
remarked. As soon as it was day, they dispersed, some one way, and some
another; but it was not long before they all returned, and, with them,
several more of their countrymen.

They now began to prepare a bowl of _kava_; and, leaving them so
employed, I went to pay a visit to Toobou, Captain Furneaux's friend,
who had a house hard by, which, for size and neatness, was exceeded by
few in the place. As I had left the others, so I found here a company
preparing a morning draught. This chief made a present to me of a living
hog, a baked one, a quantity of yams, and a large piece of cloth. When I
returned to the king, I found him, and his circle of attendants,
drinking the second bowl of _kava_. That being emptied, he told Omai,
that he was going presently to perform a mourning ceremony, called
_Tooge_, on account of a son who had been dead some time, and he desired
us to accompany him. We were glad of the opportunity, expecting to see
somewhat new or curious.

The first thing the chief did, was to step out of the house, attended by
two old women, and put on a new suit of clothes, or rather a new piece
of cloth, and, over it, an old ragged mat, that might have served his
great grandfather, on some such occasion. His servants, or those who
attended him, were all dressed in the same manner, excepting that none
of their mats could vie, in antiquity, with that of their master. Thus
equipped, we marched off, preceded by about eight or ten persons, in all
the above habits of ceremony, each of them, besides, having a small
green bough about his neck. Poulaho held his bough in his hand till we
drew near the place of rendezvous, when he also put it about his neck.
We now entered a small in