Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 2 (Stockdale).djvu/150

122 places, except the king, who withdrew into the General's cabin, with Feenou, and Toobou-Foa, one of the royal family. Kava was carried to them in cups, which had just been made of plantain leaves, and then plantains were offered to them. The General invited them all three to dinner; but the king did not permit either of the chiefs to sit at the same table with him. He tasted all the dishes, refused most of them, and ate very little of those that he did not appear to dislike, sugar excepted. The General had made him a present of a bird-organ, with which he was wonderfully amused, and on which he played almost all dinner time.

These islanders shave with the edge of a shell, and the operation takes up a great deal of time. They were struck with astonishment, when they saw how quickly our barber took off the beards of several of our crew, and every one was desirous of experiencing his skill. Among the rest, he had the honour of shaving his majesty himself.

About half after three, the king giving us notice of his intention to depart, an offer was made to put him ashore in the barge, which he accepted. He was attended by a great number of canoes, and soon arrived at the island of Pangaïmotoo, with most of the chiefs who had accompanied him on board. As soon as he landed, he