f sat facing the
people, with his back to the _morai_. This being done, three companies,
of ten or a dozen men in each, started up from amongst the large crowd a
little after each other, and running hastily to the opposite side of the
area, sat down for a few seconds; after which they returned in the same
manner to their former stations. To them succeeded two men, each of whom
held a small green branch in his hand, who got up and approached the
prince, sitting down for a few seconds three different times as they
advanced; and then, turning their backs, retired in the same manner,
inclining their branches to each other as they sat. In a little time,
two more repeated this ceremony.

The grand procession which I had seen march off from the other _morai_,
now began to come in. To judge of the circuit they had made from the
time they had been absent, it must have been pretty large. As they
entered the area, they marched up to the right of the shed, and, having
prostrated themselves on the grass, deposited their pretended burthens
(the poles above-mentioned), and faced round to the prince. They then
rose up, and retired in the same order, closing their hands, which they
held before them, with the most serious aspect, and seated themselves
along the front of the area. During all the time that this numerous band
were coming in, and depositing their poles, three men who sat under the
shed with the prince, continued pronouncing separate sentences in a
melancholy tone. After this, a profound silence ensued for a little
time, and then a man, who sat in the front of the area, began an oration
(or prayer), during which, at several different times, he went and broke
one of the poles, which had been brought in by those who had walked in
procession. When he had ended, the people sitting before the shed
separated, to make a lane, through which the prince and his attendants
passed, and the assembly broke up.

Some of our party, satisfied with what they had already seen, now
returned to the ships; but I, and two or three more of the officers,
remained at Mooa to see the conclusion of the solemnity, which was not
to be till the next day, being desirous of omitting no opportunity,
which might afford any information about the religious or the political
institutions of this people. The small sticks or poles, which had been
brought into the area by those who walked in procession, being left
lying on the ground, after the crowd had dispersed,