carried to the morai, Otoo and a priest uttered some words, which closed the solemnity.—The plantain tree seems to be much used by these islanders, not only as the olive branch of peace, but as a mark of homage, and token of devotion.
It was an attack of rheumatism that prevented Capt. Cook from being present at this solemnity, and of this disorder he was speedily cured, by an operation which had also been successfully performed here on Capt. Wallis. A dozen females, including the King's mother and three sisters, accompanied him on board the Resolution; and when he was laid upon a bed on the cabin floor, they surrounded him on every side, and began to squeeze him with both hands from head to foot, till his bones cracked, and his flesh became a perfect mummy. When the process had been continued about a quarter of an hour, the Captain felt so much relieved by it, that he submitted to it a second time, before he went to bed. This operation, which is called romee, was repeated by his female physicians in the morning, before they went ashore; and again in the evening, when they returned on board. Next morning, they took leave of their patient, the cure being then perfected.
Our navigator intended to leave Omai at Otaheite, where he might have been useful in instructing the natives in the management of the European animals, now left here: but he acted so imprudently as to forfeit the friendship of Otoo, and all the principal chiefs. He associated with vagabonds and strangers, whose sole views were to plunder him; and this drew upon him the ill-will of the chiefs, who found that they could not procure from any one in the ships, such valuable presents as
