hough the meaning of this ceremony could only be a matter of conjecture,
it was very evident that it was intended as a mark of high respect to the
person of Captain Cook. The title of Orono given to him, and often quoted
as evidence that he had permitted himself to be looked upon as a god by
the natives was also given to one, if not more, of their own chiefs; and
Burney says that the marks of honour conferred on him were exactly the
same as those conferred on any one of their own superior chieftains. The
grotesque description given by some of the missionary writers of the
whole population crawling after him on hands and knees as a mark of
adoration is utterly untrue, for Mr. King, who was ashore almost the
whole time of the ship's stay, and was continually with Cook, distinctly
says:

"The crowd which had collected on the shore, retired at our approach; and
not a person was to be seen, except a few lying prostrate on the ground,
near the huts of the adjoining village."

None of those who were on the voyage and have left any record behind
them, suggest that Cook was treated in any respect otherwise than as a
great chief and a man.

A small potato field was placed under tabu, near the Morai, for the
purpose of the observatory, and a camp under the command of King was
established there. This camp was daily supplied with meat and vegetables,
even more than could be consumed, and several canoe-loads were sent off
to the ships. After enquiry it was found that the whole expense of this
food was borne by Koah, and no return whatever was demanded.

A ROYAL VISIT.

A tabu was placed on the whole of the bay on the 24th, and trading came
to a complete standstill, the reason given being the coming of the king,
Terreeoboo. He arrived the next day, and commerce at once revived. He
paid a private visit, with his wife and children, to the Resolution,
remaining on board some time, and proved to be the same chief they had
seen at the Island of Mowee. The next day he, accompanied by several
important chiefs, all dressed in rich feather cloaks and armed with long
spears and daggers, paid a state visit. Koah was also present in a canoe
with other priests and two large basket-work idols, whose distorted faces
were adorned with pearl-shell eyes and dog's teeth; he was attended by
two other canoes, one filled with pigs and vegetables, and these paddled
round the ships, the priests singing "in most solemn fashion," and
returned to the shore