Sunday 14.

This forenoon we performed divine service.  Many of the principal natives attended and behaved with great decency.  Some of the women at one time betrayed an inclination to laugh at our general responses; but on my looking at them they appeared much ashamed.  After the service I was asked if no offering was to be made for the Eatua to eat.

The weather had been fair all the last week and at this time appeared quite settled, so that I was under no apprehensions of danger from continuing a little longer in Matavai bay.

CHAPTER 9.

A Walk into the Country.  The Peeah Roah.  Prevailed on by the Kindness of the Chiefs to defer our Departure.  Breadfruit Plants collected.  Move the Ship to Toahroah Harbour.  Fishing.  Three of the Ship’s Company desert.  Indiscretion of our People on Shore.  Instances of Jealousy.  Mourning.  Bull brought to Oparre by a Prophet.  The Deserters recovered.  Tinah proposes to visit England.

1788.  December.  Wednesday 17.

This morning I took a walk into the country accompanied by Nelson and my old friend Moannah.  The breadth of the border of low land before we arrived at the foot of the hills was near three miles.  This part of our journey was through a delightful country, well covered with breadfruit and coconut-trees, and strewed with houses in which were swarms of children.  We then proceeded along a valley, still among houses, with plantations of yams, tarro, the cloth-plant, and their favourite root the Ava:  there were breadfruit trees on the sides of the hills which were dwarfs in comparison of those on the low land.  Our walk was very much interrupted by a river, the course of which was so serpentine that we had to cross it several times, being carried over on men’s shoulders.

On arriving at a Morai I saw a number of the natives collected and was informed that the priests were performing their devotions.  Sixteen men were sitting on their heels; in the front was a pole covered with a plaited coconut branch, and before each of the men there was a number of small pieces of the same leaf plaited, which they call Hahyree, and each had likewise a piece round his wrist.  One who appeared to be the chief priest prayed aloud, and was answered by all the rest together:  after a few short sentences and responses they rose and each carried an Hahyree, which they placed at the foot of the pole and returned to prayer:  this was repeated till all the Hahyree were delivered and then the ceremony ended.  I must not forget to mention that they had placed near the pole an offering of plantains and breadfruit, which they left for the Eatua.  They very kindly asked us to partake of a roasted hog that had been prepared for them whilst they were praying; but as I wished to make the most of the morning before the sun was too high I declined their offer, and Moannah bespoke refreshments to be ready for us when we returned.