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considerable consequence in the islands, being chief priest over Otaheite and Eimeo. Upon this, Manne was invited into the cabin and treated kindly. He now redoubled his importunities to gain the captain for his friend, who desired him to wait till to-morrow, when he would consider of it.

About thirty of the natives, chiefly arreoies, intending to go to Matavai, remained on board all the night, and part of the following day, till we anchored in the bay; as did the two Swedes; and slept on the deck. The missionaries watched; all perfectly quiet. At daybreak the old priest awoke, and being impatient to secure the tayoship with the captain, awoke him also. There was now no refusing him any longer, as even good policy was on his side; therefore they exchanged names, and Manne Manne, wrapping a long piece of cloth around the captain, and putting a teboota over his head, requested for himself a musket, some shot and gunpowder: but being told that none of these were to spare, and that he should be amply repaid for what friendly offices he might do us, he seemed satisfied. All the forenoon was employed in working up without the reefs of Oparre; but gaining little ground, at one P. M. we came to anchor in Matavai bay, point Venus bearing N. E. by E. and One Tree hill S. W. distant from the beach about three quarters of a mile. We had not been long at anchor, when all the arreoies, both men and women, sprung into the water and swam to the shore: their place, however, was soon supplied by others, who surrounded the ship with hogs, fruit, and other articles: of these we took a little for present use; but the old priest having promised to supply all our wants by next morning, consequently little was done in the trading way.

7th. Manne Manne was as good as his word, coming early alongside with three hogs, some fowls, bread-fruit, cocoa-nuts, and a quantity of their cloth; the whole intended as a present for his tayo, the captain. The aged high-priest had brought five of his wives with him on board, not one of which exceeded fifteen years old, and desired he might sleep in the cabin; and, according to the custom of the country, very cordially desired captain Wilson his tayo, to take his choice, and could

hardly persuade himself he was serious in declining the offer, nor failed to inquire of them which he had chosen. This brought on a conversation on the nature of their customs; the captain explained to the old priest, how little such a state of polygamy was suited to happiness; that no woman could be either so attached, faithful, affectionate, or careful to promote domestic felicity, as where the heart was fixed on one object without a rival. The old priest did not at all relish this doctrine, and said such was not the custom of Otaheite; but the ladies highly approved, and said the Pritane custom was my ty, my ty, very good."

In the forenoon, the missionaries prepared to land. The natives had assembled upon the beach to the number of 4 or 500, and as the boat approached some ran into the water, and laying hold of her hauled her aground; then took the captain and missionaries on their backs, and carried them dry on shore. They were received by the young king (Otoo) and bis wife Tetua, both carried on men's shoulders; each took the captain by the hand, and in dumb silence surveyed him attentively, looking in his face and minutely examining every part of his dress they beheld the brethren also with much the same curiosity. The queen opened Mr. Cover's shirt at the breast and sleeves, and seemed astonished at so clear a sight of the blue veins. That this should be the case now, after so many visits from Europeans, may surprise some; but let such consider, that though the oldest and the middle-aged have been fully gratified in these respects, the young ones have as yet seen very little; for there could be but small difference be tween themselves and the dark complexions of the naked shipwrecked sailors who had lately taken refuge amongst them.

'After this, Manne Manne stood up in the middle of the ring and made a long speech, passing many encomiums on Pretane. When all was over, the king, still holding the captain by the hand, led him to the house, thence to the beach, and so on; till, tired, he requested to return on board. When arrived at the boat, Otoo desired to hear the muskets fired, and, to gratify him, the four they had were discharged twice; with which compliment he seemed highly pleased.

After dinner Otoo and his wife came off, each in a small canoe, with only one man paddling: whilst they went several times round the ship, the queen was frequently baling her canoe with a cocoa-nut shell. This may help to form an idea of what a queen is in Otaheite. They would not venture on board, because wheresoever they come is deemed sacred, none daring to enter there afterwards except their proper domestics.

'He appears tall and well made, about seventeen; his queen handsome and finely proportioned, about the same age, and always carried about, on shore, on men's shoulders. The king appears thoughtful, speaks little, but surveys every thing with attention. The missionaries supposed something majestic in his appearance, but the captain thought him stupid, and to discover little capacity. As he paddled round the ship, he was offered the compliment of firing the great guns, but he begged us not, as he was afraid that the noise would hurt his ears. Knowing there were women and children on board, they expressed a wish to see them, and when they walked to the ship's side to shew themselves, they set up a cry of admiration and wonder. The sky darkening they made towards shore.'

On the extremity of point Venus, was a large house which had been built by Pomarre, for captain Bligh, who said he would return and live with them, and which was now surrendered to the missionaries. The first thing we set about with the house,' say they, was to close it quite round with the thicker sort of bamboo, fixing a door on each side, and by this means to keep the natives from crowding so much upon us. The several births or apartments were next planned, and partitions of smaller bamboo begun; but in consequence of the great distance the natives had to go up the valley for these bamboos, the work went but slowly on; though one man stripped his own house to supply us. In the arrangement, the married people had a part of one side to themselves, and the single men the other side: all these apartments were at one end, and chosen by lot. Next to them were marked out a store-room, library, and a place for the doctor and his

medicines. To enclose the whole, a partition went from side to side, with two lock doors. The remaining space was left for a chapel, and into it the two outer doors opened.

'Several of the arreoies of Ulietea having arrived here about the same time as we did with the ship, they with their heivas made much the same stir in Matavai as a company of strolling players often do in the small villages of our own country. Probably the hopes of pleasing the English strangers was also a spur to their exertion, for either in our sight or our hearing they were engaged the whole day in some sport or other. In the afternoon they collected in great numbers before the door of our house, and began a kind of box-fighting or wrestling. First forming a ring, within it stood about a dozen of the stoutest fellows, with their backs to the crowd and faces towards each other. Then the game began with an act of defi ance or challenge, made by beating heavy strokes with the flat hand upon the left arm above the elbow, where this part was quite black with the repeated strokes it had received. At last one steps forward to the centre of the circle; another, who thinks himself an equal match, advances to meet him; sometimes only a smart blow or two ensues before they fall back again into their places. At another time, after advancing and gazing at each other for a while, one will suddenly plump the top of his head into the face of his opponent, and this causing him to retire in the dumps, sets all the crowd a-laughing. The worst of the game is, when one gets an advantageous hold of his adversary: a severe wrestling then takes place, and it is only at the expence of strength, and blood, and hair, that they will submit to be parted.'

On the 10th, the captain landed for the purpose of presenting some shewy dresses to the young king and his wife. They met him at the beach as usual. Peter informed him of what was intended, and, shewing him the box which contained the treasure, desired Otoo to walk towards his house, a temporary shed they had erected for the purpose of being near our people. This was complied with; and when they came near, the captain, stopping under a tree, ordered them to form a ring, and placing the box in the midst, Otoo was requested

to alight, that the brethren might dress him; he replied, By and by, and gazed sullenly for a considerable time, till the patience of the captain was pretty well exhausted; repeating the request and receiving no answer, they opened the box, and on taking out the dress for the queen, she instantly alighted from the man's shoulder, and Otoo followed her example. The fancy cap fitted her exceedingly well, and she seemed very proud of it, but it was only by unripping that the other articles could be put upon her or Otoo. The cap tain told him that the earees of Pretane thought he was not yet so stout a man. Dressed complete in this gaudy attire, the surrounding crowd gazed upon them with admiration. She, true to the foibles of her sex, appeared delighted, but Otoo thought little of them, saying an axe, a musket, a knife, or pair of scissors were more valuable: which was saying more for himself than we expected, or that he had even sense to do.'

Next day the pinnace was manned for the women and children. Vast numbers of the natives crowded to the beach to gratify their curiosity, all behaving with the greatest respect and very peaceable. Otoo and his wife kept for a while at a little distance, seemingly in doubt whether he should approach the women; but thinking it proper to salute him, he was a little encouraged: however, he still kept silence, and all the way as we walked to the house, gazed stupidly, like another Cymon. The house was surrounded all the afternoon by the natives, who were much delighted with the two children, and sent often for them and the women to shew themselves at the door. In the dusk of the evening they all retired; and this, the brethren remark, they have uniformly done since they first landed. Orders being likewise given at the ship for none of their canoes to come near on the Sunday, they supplied us in the same plentiful manner as they had done the missionaries.

The Sunday passed very quietly, not one canoe coming near the ship; and on shore no interruption was attempted, the natives, with the king and queen, attending, and conducting themselves in peace and good order. A discussion took place among the brethren concerning the propriety of speaking to the natives upon the important subject of their mission,