Series 03: Joseph Banks - Endeavour journal, 25 August 1768 - 12 July 1771 (vol. 2) - No. 0440
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[Page 440]
336.
Savu
the natives who would bring down large quantities to the Beach by this time the morning was pretty far advanc'd & we resolving not to go on board & eat salt meat when such a profusion of fresh was continualy talkd of petitiond his majesty that we might have liberty to purchase a small Hog some rice &c. & employ his subjects to cook them for our dinner he answerd that if we could eat victuals dressed by his subjects which he could hardly suppose he would do himself the honour of Entertaining us we expressd our gratitude & sent immediately on board for liquors about 5 O'Clock dinner was ready consisting of 36 dishes or rather baskets containing alternately Rice & Boild Pork & 3 earthen ware bowls of Soup or rather the Broth in which the Pork had been boild these were rangd on the floor & matts laid round them for us to set upon we were now conducted by turns to a hole in the floor near which stood a man with a basket of water in his hand here we we wash'd our hands & then rang'd ourselves in order round the victuals waiting for the King to set down we were told however that the custom of the countrey