,1(56 X I E U T E N ANT C O O K ’ s V O Y A G E
1769. a value upon their pearls very nearly equal to what they
^Aoguii^ woujj fetch among us, except they could be procured before
.Thurfflay3. they are drilled.
Between the dances of the women, the men performed a
kind of dramatic interlude, in which there was dialogue as
well as dancing ; but we were not fufliciently acquainted
with their language to underftand the fubject.
Friday 4. On the 4th, fome of our gentlemen faw a much more regular
entertainment o f the dramatic kind, which was divided
into four acts.
Tupia had often told us that he had large pofleffions in
this ifland, which had been taken away from him by the
inhabitants of Bolabola, and he now pointed them out in
the very bay where the fhip was at anchor. Upon our going
on fhore, this was confirmed by the inhabitants, who. Ihewed
us feveral diftridts or Whennuas, which they acknowledged
to be his right.
Saturday 5. On the 5th, I received a prefent of three hogs, fome fowls,
feveral pieces of cloth, the largeft we had feen, being fifty
yards long, which they unfolded and difplayed fo as to make
the greateft fhow poffible ; and a confiderable quantity of
plantains, cocoa-nuts, and other refrefhments, from Opoony,
the formidable king, or, in the language of the country,
Earee raliie, of Bolabola, with a meflage that he was at this
time upon the ifland, and that the next day he intended to
pay me a vifit.
In the mean time Mr. Banks and Dr. Solander went upon
the hills, accompanied by feveral of the Indians, who con-
dutted them by excellent paths, to fuch a height, that they
plainly faw the other fide of the ifland, and the pafiage
through which the fhip had palled the reef between the little
iflands of Opururu and Tamou, when we landed upon it the
firft
R O U N D t h e WO R I .D . U 2G7
firft time. As they were returning, they faw the Indians ^ 9«
exercifing themfelves at what they call Errtvhaw which a
nothing more than pitching a kind of light lance, headed
with hard wood, at 1 mark: in this amufemcnt, though tliey
feemvery fond of lt^tjiev.donotexcel, for not above one in
twelve ft ruck the mark, which was the bole of a plantain
tree, at about twenty yards diftarice.
: On the 6th, w ea llfta id a t home,.expeaia®the.vifitQfdhe Sund.yS.
great king, but we were difappointed ; we had, however,
much more agreeable company, for he fent three very pretty
girls to demand fomething in return fbr his prefent : perhaps
he was unwilling to truft himfelf on board the fhip, or perhaps
he thought his meffengers would procure a more, valuable
return for his hogs and poultry than he could himfelf ;
be that as it may, we did not regret his abfence, nor his
meflengers their vifit.
In the afternoon, as the great king would not come to us,
we detërmined to go to thé great kingU AVhé was lord of
the Bolabola men, the conquerors of this; and the terror o
all the other iflands, we expected to fée a Chief young and
vigorous, with an intelligent countenance, and . an enter-
prifing fpirit : Wei found, however, a poor feeble wretch,
withered and decrepit,' half blind with age,, and fo fluggifll
and ftupid that lie appeared fcarcely’ to have: underftanding
enough left to know that it Was probable we fhould be gratified
either hy hogs o r ; women. He- did not receive us
fitting, or with any ftate or formality as the other Chiefs had
done : we made him our prefenti: which hé accepted, and
gave a hog in return: We had learnt thatihis principal refidence
was at Otaha; and upon our teeing him'that we intended
to go. thither in our.boats the next morning, and-that
Voi.. II. M m wc