The first thing the chief did, was to step out of the house, attended by two old women, and put on a new suit of clothes, or rather a new piece of cloth, and, over it, an old ragged mat, that might have served his great grandfather, on some such occasion.  His servants, or those who attended him, were all dressed in the same manner, excepting that none of their mats could vie, in antiquity, with that of their master.  Thus equipped, we marched off, preceded by about eight or ten persons, in all the above habits of ceremony, each of them, besides, having a small green bough about his neck.  Poulaho held his bough in his hand till we drew near the place of rendezvous, when he also put it about his neck.  We now entered a small inclosure, in which was a neat house, and we found one man sitting before it.  As the company entered, they pulled off the green branches from round their necks, and threw them away.  The king having first seated himself, the others sat down before him, in the usual manner.  The circle increased, by others dropping in, to the number of a hundred or upward, mostly old men, all dressed as above described.  The company being completely assembled, a large root of kava, brought by one of the king’s servants, was produced, and a bowl which contained four or five gallons.  Several persons now began to chew the root, and this bowl was made brimful of liquor.  While it was preparing, others were employed in making drinking cups of plantain leaves.  The first cup that was filled, was presented to the king, and he ordered it to be given to another person.  The second was also brought to him, which he drank, and the third was offered to me.  Afterward, as each cup was filled, the man who filled it, asked who was to have it?  Another then named the person; and to him it was carried.  As the bowl grew low, the man who distributed the liquor seemed rather at a loss to whom cups of it should be next sent, and frequently consulted those who sat near him.  This mode of distribution continued, while any liquor remained; and though not half the company had a share, yet no one seemed dissatisfied.  About half a dozen cups served for all; and each, as it was emptied, was thrown down upon the ground, where the servants picked it up, and carried it to be filled again.  During the whole time, the chief and his circle sat as was usually the case, with a great deal of gravity, hardly speaking a word to each other.

We had long waited in expectation, each moment, of seeing the mourning ceremony begin; when, soon after the kava was drank out, to our great surprise and disappointment, they all rose up and dispersed; and Poulaho told us, he was now ready to attend us to the ships.  If this was a mourning ceremony, it was a strange one.  Perhaps it was the second, third, or fourth mourning; or, which was not very uncommon, Omai might have misunderstood what Poulaho said to him.  For, excepting the change of dress, and the putting the green bough round their necks, nothing seemed to have passed at this meeting, but what we saw them practise, too frequently, every day.