1777- from behind the curtain, but to mix with the actors them-
■ ^l>- < felves, if poffible. With this view, Iftole out from the
plantation, and walked toward the moral, the fcene of the
folemnity. I was, feveral times, defired to go back, by
people whom I met; but I paid no regard to them; and they
fuffered me to pafs on. When I arrived at the moral, I found
a number of men feated on the fide of the area, on each
fide of the road that leads up to it. A few were fitting on
the oppoiite fide of the area; and two men in the middle of
it, with their faces turned to. the morai. When I got into
the niidft of the firft company, I was defired to fit down |
which I accordingly, did. Where I fat, there were lying a
number of fmall bundles or parcels, compofed of cocoa-nur
leaves, and tied to flicks made info the form of hand-
barrows. All the information I could get about- them was,
that they were taboo. Our number kept continually in-
ereafingt everyone coming from the fame quarter. From
time to time, one or another of the company turned himfelf
to thofe who were coming to join us, and made a ihort-
fpeech ; in which I could remark that the word arekee, that
is King, was generally mentioned. One man faid fome-
thing that produced burfts of hearty laughter from all the
crowd; others, of the fpeakers, met with public applaufe.
I was, feveral times, defired to leave the place ; and, at laft,
when they found that I would not Air, after fome feeming
confultation, they applied to me to uncover my Ihoulders
as theirs were. With this requeft I complied; and then they
feemed to be no longer uneafy at my prefence.
I fat a full hour, without any thing more going forward,
befide what I have mentioned. At length the prince, the
women, and the king, all came in, as they had done the
day before. The prince, being placethunder the Ihed, after
his
his father’s arrival, two men, each carrying a piece of mat,
came, repeating fomethingferioufly, and put them about him.
The affembled people now began their operations; and firft,
three companies ran backward and forward acrofs the area, as
defcribed in the account o f the proceedings of the former day.
Soon after, the two men, who fat in the middle o f the area,
made a ihort fpeech or prayer; and then the whole body,
amongft whom I had my place, ftarted up, and ran and
feated themfelves before the ihed under which the prince,
and three or four men, were fitting. I was now partly under
the management of one of the company, who feemed very
afliduous to ferve me. By his means, I was placed in fuch
a fituation, that, if I had been allowed to make ufe of my
eyes, nothing that palled could have efcaped me. But it
was necefiary to fit with down-caft looks, and demure as
maids.
Soon after, the proceflion came in, as on the day before;
each two perfons bearing on, their ihoulders a pole, round
the middle of which, a cocoa-nut leaf was plaited. Thefe
were depofited with ceremonies fimilar to thofe obferved
on the preceding day. This firft proceflion was followed
by a fecond; the men compofing which, brought baikets,
fuch as are ufually employed by this people to carry pro-
vifions in, and made of palm leaves. Thefe were followed
by a third proceflion, in which were brought different kinds
of fmall fiih ; each fixed at the end o f a forked flick. The
baikets were carried up to an old man, whom I took to be
the Chief Prieft, and who fat on the prince’s right-hand,
without the ihed. He held each in his hand, while he made a
ihort fpeech or prayer; then laid it down, and called for
another, repeating the fame words as before; and thus he
went through the whole number of baikets. The fifli were
Y y 2 prefented,