1773-
September.
ing way to their natural difpofition for fenfuality, for every
piece of pork required the performance of an indecent denudation.
To complete our entertainment this day, the
chief gave orders for performing another heeva, and we were
admitted (behind the fcenes) to fee the ladies dreffing for
that purpofe. They obtained fome firings of beads on this
occafion, with which we took it into our heads to improve
upon their ornaments, much to their own iatisfaction.
Among the fpeftators we obferved feveral of the prettied:
women of this country; and one of them was remarkable
for the whiteft complexion we had ever feen in all thefe
iflands. Her colour refembled that of white wax a little
fullied, without having the leaf! appearance of ficknefs,
which that hue commonly conveys; and her fine black
eyes and hair contrafted fo well with it, that fhe was
admired by us all. She received at firft a number of littlq
prefents, which were fo many marks of homage paid at the
flirine of beauty ; but her fuccefs, inftead of gratifying, only
fharpened her love of trinkets, and fhe inceffantly importuned
every one of us as long as fhe fufpedted we had a
fingle bead left. One of the gentlemen fortunately happened
to have a little padlock in his hand, which fhe
begged for as foon as fhe had perceived it. - After denying
it for fome time, he confented to give it her, and locked it in
her ear, alluring her that was its proper place. She was
well pleafed for fome time ; but finding it top heavy, defired
fired him to unlock it. He flung away the key, giving her septembe».
to underftand at the fame time, that he had made her the
prefent at her own defire, and that if fire found it incumbered
her, fhe fhould bear it as a punifhment for importuning
us with her petitions. She was difconfolate upon this
refufal, and weeping bitterly, applied to us all to open the
padlock; but if we had been willing, we were not able to
comply with her reqUeft for want of the key. She applied
to the chief; and he as well as his wife, fon and daughter,
joined in praying for the releafe of her ear j they offered
cloth, perfume-wood, and hogs, but all in vain. At laft a
fmall key was found to open the padlock, which put an end
to the poor girl’s lamentation, and reftored peace and tranquility
among all her friends. Her adventure had however
this good effedl, that it Cured her and fome of her forward
country-women of their idle habit of begging. In the
evening we returned on board, highly pleafed with the hof-
pitality and general good difpofition of the natives towards
us. We were therefore furprifed the next morning, that
not a fingle canoe would come off to us, and going to
Orea’s houfe, in order to enquire the real'on of this fudden
change of behaviour, we to our farther aftonifhment found
it abandoned by him and his family. A few of the natives,
who came to us with a good deal of diffidence, told us that
he had retired towards the north point of the ifland, being
afraid that we meant to take him prifoner. It was imme-
Vol. I. G g g diately