had been deposited in the forenoon. As we were not the only
people who were excluded from being publicly present at this ceremony,
but allowed to peep from behind the curtain, we had a good deal of
company; and I observed, that all the other inclosures round the place
were filled with people. And yet all imaginable care seemed to be taken,
that they should see as little as possible; for the fences had not only
been repaired that morning, but in many places raised higher than
common, so that the tallest man could not look over them. To remedy this
defect in our station; we took the liberty to cut holes in the fence
with our knives, and by this means we could see pretty distinctly every
thing that was transacting on the other side.

On our arrival at our station, we found two or three hundred people
sitting on the grass, near the end of the road that opened into the area
of the _morai_, and the number continually increased by others joining
them. At length, arrived a few men carrying some small poles, and
branches or leaves of the cocoa-nut tree; and, upon their first
appearance, an old man seated himself in the road and, with his face
toward them, pronounced a long oration in a serious tone. He then
retired back, and the others advancing to the middle of the area, began
to erect a small shed, employing for that purpose the materials
above-mentioned. When they had finished their work, they all squatted
down for a moment before it, then rose up, and retired to the rest of
the company. Soon after came Poulaho's son, preceded by four or five
men, and they seated themselves a little aside from the shed, and rather
behind it. After them, appeared twelve or fourteen women of the first
rank, walking slowly in pairs, each pair carrying between them a narrow
piece of white cloth extended, about two or three yards in length. These
marched up to the prince, squatted down before him, and, having wrapped
some of the pieces of the cloth they had brought round his body, they
rose up, and retired in the same order to some distance on his left, and
there seated themselves. Poulaho himself soon made his appearance,
preceded by four men, who walked two and two abreast, and sat down on
his son's left hand, about twenty paces from him. The young prince then
quitting his first position, went and sat down under the shed with, his
attendants; and a considerable number more placed themselves on the
grass before this royal canopy. The prince himsel