5-88
m I«.ch round portion of the black glafs above-mentioned inftead
Of eyes. They had likewife fome fmall crooked human
figures made of wood, of which we could not learn the
ufe or fignification ; we did not, however, think that our
ignorance on this fubjeft intitled us to call them idols,
which is too commonly the judgment palled upon the
works of art of unknown nations.
“ After leaving this hut we fiill advanced to the northward,
without feeing any new objects. A man and a woman
met us from fome neighbouring houfes, each with a
large matted bag, of very neat wOrkmanfliip, filled with hot
potatoes, and placed themfelves by the fide of the path where
we were to pafs. As we came on, the man prefented each of
us with fome of the roots, and having diltributed a portion
to the whole party, he ran with amazing fwiftnefs to the
head of our file tofhare out the reft, till he had given away
the whole. He received a large piece of cloth from me,
which was the only requital for an inftance of hofpitality,.
of which I never law the like even at Taheitee. Soon after
the natives told us their aree, or hareekee, or king was coming
towards us. Several men came on before him, and
diftribufed fugar-canes to us all in fign of friendlhip, at the
fame time pronouncing the word lees*, which fignifies
friend. We now faw the king Handing on a hill, and
walked up to him, Mr. Pickerfgill and myfelf making him
® Hoa i t the Society Ifles; Wba at the Friendly Illes.
fome prefents. We alked for his name, which he told us m'a”ch.
was Ko-Toheetai, adding that he was aree or king. We
Were defirous of knowing whether he Was only the chief of
a diftridt, or of the whole illand ; upon which he fpread out
his arms, as it were to include the whole illand, and faid
Waihu. To Ihew that we underftood him, we laid our hands
on his breaft, and, calling him by name, added his title,
king of Waihu, at which he exprefled very great fatisfac-
tion, and converfed a great deal with his people on that fub-
jedt. He was a middle-aged man, rather tall; his face and
whole body ftrongly punctured. He wore a piece of cloth
made of the mulberry bark, quilted with threads of grafs,
and ftained yellow with turmerick; .and on his head he
had a cap of long fhining black feathers, which might be
called a diadem. We did not perceive any great degree of
homage or attention paid to him by the people; and indeed:
in fo poor a country there feems to be nothing which he
could have referved for himfelf, without a manifeft incroach-
ment on the natural rights of mankind, which might have-
produced dangerous effedts. When we. wanted to continue
our march he feemed to diHike it, and defired us to return,
offering to accompany us; but feeing our officer determined
to proceed at all events he defifted, and went with us.
“ We marched to an elevated fpot, and Hopped a little
while to take fome refrelhments, and to give Mr. Hodgestime
to draw fome of the monuments, near one of which