invited him to her houfe, which was about two miles up the valley, and given
him Tome large hogs, after which ihe returned with him to the watering-place*
and expreffing a defire to go on board-the fhip, he had thought it proper th a t ih e
ihould be gratified. She feemed to be under no reftraint, either from diffidence
or fear, when ihe firft came into the (hip; and ihe behaved all the while ihe
was on board with an eaiy freedom, fuch as always diftinguiihes confcious
fuperiority and habitual command. The Captain gave her a large blue mantle,
that reached from her ihoulders to her feet, which he threw over -her, and
tied on with ribands. He gave her alfo a looking-glafs, beads of feveral, forts,
and many other things, which ihe accepted with a good grace, and much plea-
fu r e . When ihe intimated an inclination to return, Captain Wallis ordered an-
officer to attend her to her habitation.
The next day the Captain went aihore, for the firft time, and foo'n after the
Princefs or Queen, for fuch by her authority ihe appeared to be, came to him,
followed by many of her attendants. As ihe perceived his diforder had left'
him- very weak, ihe ordered her people to carry him all the way -to her honfe;
as ihe likewife did the firft Lieutenant and Purfer, who alfo had been fick.
In their way a vaft multitude c rowded about them; but upon her waving her
hand, without fpeaking a word, they withdrew, and left therti a'free paffage.
When they approached her houfe, a great number o f both fexes came out to meet
her, whom ihe prefented to Captain Wall is; and having intimated by iigns
that they were her relations, ihe t o o k hold of his hand, and made them
kifs it. They then entered the houfe, which covered a piece' o f ground"
327 feet long, and 42 broad. It confifted of a roof thatched with palm leaves,
and raifed upon 39 pillars on each fide, arid 14 in the middle; the ridge
of the thatch on the infide was 30 feet high; and the fid'es of the houfe t o
the edge of the roof were 12 feet high; all below the r o o f being open.
As foon as th e v .en te r e d the houfe, ihe caufed the ikin of the Captain, and the
o th e r two invalids, to be.gently chafed by four young girls ; from which operation
they found great benefit. She then- ordered ibme bales of Indian cloth
to be brought out, with which ihe clothed the Captain, and all that were with
him, according to the faihion of the country. And when they went ¿way,
Ihe ordered a very large fow, big with young, to be taken down t'cr the boat,
whither ihe accompanied them herfelf.
The
The next morning Captain Wallis fent her, by one of his officers, fome pre- p. 244.
fents in return, with which ihe feemed to be much pleafed. The officer found
her giving an entertainmentrto a great number of people, which he fuppofed
could not be lefs than a thoufand. The meffes were all brought to her by
the fervants that prepared them in ihells of cocoa nuts; and The diftributed
them with her own hands to the giiefts, who were feated in rows round the
great houfe; when this was done ihe fat down herfelf upon a place fome-
what elevated above the reft, and two of her women fed her. The officer, to
whom a mefs of their food was prefented, could not certainly tell what it
confifted of, but believed it to be fowl picked fmall, with apples cut among
it, and feafoned with fait water; whatever it was, he faid it tailed very well.
This correipondence being eftabliihed with the Queen, provifions of every P* 244*
kind became much" more plenty. During the remainder of their ftay, ihe
ihewed them every civility in her power; and it was not without the greateft
reluctance and concern that ihe fuffered them to depart. But having laid in p. 269.
a ftock of fuch neceffaries as the iiland afforded, and the health [of all the
ihip’s company being reftored beyond their moil fanguine expectations, as.
there was not now an invalid on board, except the Captain and the two
Lieutenants, (who were recovering, though ftill in a very feeble condition)
on the 27th of July they left the harbour, to which Captain Wallis gave the p. 259.
name of Port Royal Harbour.
Whilft the ihip was unmooring, the Queen came on board in her canoe, p. 258.
followed by fifteen or fixteen more; but not being able to fpeak, ihe fat down,
and gave vent to her feelings by weeping, in about an hour after, a breeze
fpringing up, they made fail, when ihe embraced them all in the moft affectionate
manner, accompanied with many tears. Her attendants likewife
expreffed great for row at their departure; and it was not till the laft moment
that they-returned to their canoes.
This iiland, which is called by the natives Otaheite, but to which Captain p. 259.
Wallis gave the name of King George the Third’s Iiland, lies in latitude 17*
30’ fouth, longitude 150° weft. Fxom obfervations taken in Port Royal Harbour,
* K k it