WèéM
NOVEMBER’
§ te Plate IV.
M- Ithe
people without, that the King was at {upper, which was -
their lignal to begin. It now growing dark, torches ^w,er<?
lighted, and .placed between the- boards^, or cracks in the
fioor? in row?, one before each family, or feparat.e; tp,gfsr
who-. W behind; the lights, .which were ranged; in liraight
lines lengthways of the houftS; fo that the centre part, from
one end of. the „building to the other, was kept; clear, ^nd
lighted, which had-a very pleafing effe<ft, none fitting-face
to=fe#4n their own party.g, A little fpace wa§ prefefved bsT
tween one Chief and another, each .Chief keeping with his
ffiftihdt family. As to our people, they, a's ftrangers, were
welcome to all; they alternately fat. with the King, jyith
Raa Kook, and with the other Rupacks. When the fifh was
portioned out^ each family’s {hare was laid op .a plantain^-
leaf; and this leaf, in general, ferved them as a plate, though
on occafions of particular ceremony, when at home, the great
people have fmall plates or dhhes of ;tprtmfe-ftiell, and alfp
others made of wood and earthen-ware.
.Having indulged an hour’s converfation after {upper; each
party cleared away the litter of the meal, by fweeping it
down between the boards of the floor;: the attend^tsjthen
' * On bring analyfed, thefe torches appear to be a Refin mixed with fmall pieces of
’ wood. The refin is probably the exudation of feme tree; but it is uncertaini Whether
the wood is little bits of bark which inevitably mix with the refin in feraping it off, br ■
' whether they are purpofely joined with it, to fupply the place of a wick, and render it
Ids liable to run and diffolve haftily, like a flick of wax.-They have lo*g leaves twined
and tied round them, to prevent their flicking to the hand.— When lighted, they afford
an agreeable fmell. ^