A ceremony of this kind was performed almost every morning at the King’s or one of the principal chief’s house and we always had an invitation to attend. A large bowl was prepared in which the cava or ava was put and mixed with water, when it forms a liquor which has much the same effect on a person as opium. The company sit round in a circle, the bowl in the centre, and while it is preparing, they all sing songs relating to some enterprise that is intended or perhaps past, the King having first invoked the Great Spirit to bless the liquor, the people all answering with a word which is equivalent to our amen. It was then carried round in cocoanut shells, the King drinking first, and so on according to the rank, though we always had the honour to drink next to the King. They always give a toast before drinking, frequently wishing the Great Spirit to bless us with a safe arrival to our country; sometimes that he might bless them with a great plenty of yams or fish. We continued to live on good terms of friendship with the natives, which was much increased by our assisting them in repairing and learning them the use of the muskets and other weapons of which a great many fell into their hands. We always met with a welcome reception when we visited their houses and frequently received small presents of clothes, etc., for the work we did for them, so our situation became quite comfortable, although we could hardly suppress our feelings, to see our property and clothes destroyed, nor reflect on the great distance we were from our homes and friends and the future prospects, without pain and anxiety. About the last of April, 1831, the king fitted out an expedition of thirty large canoes to go to a place about 50 miles distant to procure certain tribute of the mountaineers which he obliged them to pay him. The King and all the principal warriors, with the women and ourselves, started in the canoes and in two days arrived at the place where we were to meet the mountaineers with the tribute. It was on a beautiful plain where houses were built for the King and the chiefs with their families. After the King and chiefs were seated in the houses, a party of the women of the mountains marched out in front of our King, fancifully dress’d with flowers and strips of bark of various colours, each having a fish-net of superior workmanship and each bearing in her hand a sort of fan, with which they beat time to a sort of solemn tune which they sung. After performing a number of dances before the King, they divested themselves of their ornaments and nets which became the property of our women, and marched off followed by the shouts and praises of all our party.