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[Page 280]

Georges Land

head of whoom appeard another * cheif we had learn'd the ceremony we were to go through which was to receive the green bough which was always brough to us at every fresh meeting & to ratifie the peace of which that was the emblem by laying our hands on our breasts & saying Taio which I imagine signifies freind the bough was here offerd & accepted & in return every one of us said Taio The cheif then made us signs that if we chose to eat he had victuals ready we accepted the offer & dind heartily on fish & bread fruit with plantains &c dressd after their way raw fish was offerd to us which it seems they themselves eat the adventures of this entertainment I much wish to record particularly but am so much hurried by attending the Indians ashore almost all day long that I fear I shall scarce understand my own language when I read it again

[In right margin - * Gubourai]

Our cheifs own wife # (ugly enough in conscience) did me the honour with very little invitation to squat down on the mats close by me no sooner had she done so than I espied among the common croud a very pretty girl with a fire in her eyes that I had not before seen in the countrey unconscious of the dignity of my companion I beckond to the

[In right margin - # Tomia]
 

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