Io6 A N A C C O U N T OF
1783.
A U 6 U S T ,
long as they remained at Pelew, .and that there they were
fqfteep. After which he rofe up, and-withdrew, prmouftj
apologizing to-Captain Wilson fbi retiring, faying he was
going to : bathe. Soon after a meflage came to . Ra \ Koo-cl
from the Queen, to requell Ihe might fee the '
at her dwelling; they attended the General thither,
through a pathway from the back o f the houfe where they
were, which led into a grove of cocoa-nut trees.; having
croffed the . grove, they came to a fm all retired habitation,
in the front o f which was a fquare, formed with paved
hone, furrounded alfo with cocoa-nut trees. Immediately
before this- > houfe was a rail, on which were Tome tame
pigeons,; tied by the leg, This is a bird held in ,fuch"
eflimation in thefe. if! and s, that - none but the R u p a c k S y
and their families, are allowed to eat o f them. As they approached,
the Queen opened her window, and fpoke to Raa
K ook, to delire the Englijfi would lit down on the pavement
before her; which being complied with, a number o f
attendants brought out yams, cocoa-nuts, and fweet drink ;
and whilft they were partaking o f thefe the Queen, afked.
Raa K ook many queftions about our people,, and then,
fent them one broiled pigeon, (which they drefs without
drawing), that every one might have a bit to ta lle ; giving
them- to underhand, that this was the greateft rarity that,
the country produced. She took very great notice, of. the-.
Engli/Jj, and wilhed fome o f them, would come clofe. to the-
| window».
T I ^ E V E L E W I S K A M S . ...
window, and draw up then coat-fleeves, that. Ihe mightfee
the col©» o f their-fkin'; after flue had-viewed' them atttfr»
fivd^^andafkedS, through thefGeneraVas»many.eirctrmftan-
ces. refpe&ing them as Ihe thought Ihe could with propriety
obtrude, Ihe fignified that Ihe would not longer trefpafs on,
their time by detaining thim&ffo they rofe and took leave o f
her 1 ■
, T h e General now told them he willed to conduit them
to his own houfe, which was- a little difemt from the fixft
fquare, where the King had allotted them their habitation.-—
A t the houfe o f this Chief, they were received quite in a fa- •
mily way, without any fo rm ; th e y w'e.re 'dfflifgêdvjtift' -to
tafte o f what was' fet before'them, though their a p p e l s
had been hfljfficifihtly taken away by-partaking o f to nanny
• • tR a**. Kom.*? wife brought them
m a brbïled pigtööj. whish o f
a' bté of, for the honoar done them,— In thfs’rdoirhêftic
feche' R aa K ook appeared in a new and amiable Jighife;
it Wa» ai fituatioff which placed to their view- that benesro*-
.• o f . isfë. > ;ffcey had themfeives beMte frequently
noticed.— Here he Was furrounded by feveral o f his children,
two o f whom were very young, and feerned alvnou
o f the fame age they were climbing up his.knees' and
• » This lady feemedvto'havea greater' dégree- of 'rcfped and attention- pai.1 her thari
any other of the Kin£s wives ; the never went abroad, and her houfe was theming);
general refidencè;1 ■ -
p a- I i \ careffing
*783- ,, U- O 0 3 Ti