so whilst his majesty
is in sight. Should the king enter a woman's house, it is immediately
pulled down. The king is never permitted to help himself with meat or
drink, which makes him a very troublesome visitor, as he is never quiet
whilst a bottle is in sight till he has had the last drop of it.

Their houses are well adapted to the temperate climate they inhabit, and
generally consist of three chambers, the interior one of which the chief
retires to, after he has drank his cava. A profound silence is observed
during his repose; for should they be suddenly awaked, it produces
violent vomiting, and a train of uneasy sensations; but, otherwise, if
undisturbed, it proves a safe anodyne, creates amorous dreams, and a
powerful excitement to venery. In the adjoining chamber, his fair spouse
waits, with eager expectation, to avail herself of the happy moment when
her lord should awake, which is by slow degrees; and he is roused from
Elysium, by her gentle offices, in tenderly embracing every part of his
body, until his ideal scenes of bliss are realised; and when fully sated
with the luscious banquet, they retire to the bath, to gather fresh
vigour for a renewal of similar joys. In this mazy round of chaste
dissipation, the hours glide gently on, and the evening is spent in
dancing to the music of Pan's pipes, the flute, and haeva drum. They then
go to the bath again, and the festivity of the evening is concluded with
a repast of fruit, and young cocoanut milk. The whole village
indiscriminately join the feast; and the demon of rank and precedence,
with their appendages malevolence and envy, has never yet disturbed their
happy board.

Happy would it have been for those people had they never been visited by
Europeans; for, to our shame be it spoken, disease and gunpowder is all
the benefit they have ever received from us, in return for their
hospitality and kindness. The ravages of the venereal disease is evident,
from the mutilated objects so frequent amongst them, where death has not
thrown a charitable veil over their misery, by putting a period to their
existence.

A disease of the consumptive kind has of late made great havoc amongst
them; this they call the British disease, as they have only had it since
their intercourse with the English.

In this complaint they are avoided by society, from a supposition of its
being contagious; and in every old out-house, you will find miserable
objects, for want of medical assis