s. We observed, that,
after every response, their parts became gradually shorter, till,
toward the close, Kaireekeea's consisted of only two or three words,
which the rest answered by the word _orono_.

When this offering was concluded, which lasted a quarter of an hour,
the natives sat down fronting us, and began to cut up the baked
hog, to peel the vegetables, and break the cocoa-nuts, whilst others
employed themselves in brewing the _ava_, which is done by chewing it,
in the same manner as at the Friendly Islands. Kaireekeea then took
part of the kernel of a cocoa-nut, which he chewed, and wrapping it
in a piece of cloth, rubbed with it the captain's face, head, hands,
arms, and shoulders. The _ava_ was then handed round, and after we
had tasted it, Koah and Pareea began to pull the flesh of the hog in
pieces, and to put it into our mouths. I had no great objection to
being fed by Pareea, who was very cleanly in his person, but Captain
Cook, who was served by Koah, recollecting the putrid hog, could not
swallow a morsel; and his reluctance, as may be supposed, was not
diminished, when the old man, according to his own mode of civility,
had chewed it for him.

When this last ceremony was finished, which Captain Cook put an end
to as soon as he decently could, we quitted the _morai_, after
distributing amongst the people some pieces of iron and other trifles,
with which they seemed highly gratified. The men with wands conducted
us to the boats, repeating the same words as before. The people again
retired, and the few that remained, prostrated themselves as we passed
along the shore. We immediately went on board, our minds full of what
we had seen, and extremely well satisfied with the good disposition of
our new friends. The meaning of the various ceremonies with which
we had been received, and which, on account of their novelty and
singularity, have been related at length, can only be the subject
of conjectures, and those uncertain and partial; they were, however,
without doubt, expressive of high respect on the part of the natives;
and, as far as related to the person of Captain Cook, they seemed
approaching to adoration.

The next morning, I went on shore with a guard of eight marines,
including the corporal and lieutenant, having orders to erect the
observatory in such a situation as might best enable me to superintend
and protect the waterers, and the other working parties that were to
be on shore. As we were