him as much to do as would employ him for at least a few minutes,
while, in the meantime, it would afford me some amusement for my
trouble. I therefore thrust into his mouth the largest hot potato I
could find, and this had exactly the intended effect; for the fellow,
unwilling to drop it, and not daring to penetrate it before it should
get cool, held it slightly compressed between his teeth, to the great
enjoyment of his countrymen, who laughed heartily, as well as myself, at
the wry faces he made, and the efforts he used with his tongue to
moderate the heat of the potato, and bring it to the temperature of his
gums, which were evidently smarting from the contact. But he bore this
trick with the greatest possible good humour, and to make him amends for
it, I took care to supply him plentifully, till he cried out, 'Nuee nuee
kiki,'[AB] and could eat no more; an exclamation, however, which he did
not make till there was no more in the baskets."[AC]

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote S: tapu'd.]

[Footnote T: "Moeurs des Sauvages Ameriquains."]

[Footnote U: "Moko" is the accepted form of spelling the word.]

[Footnote V: "Account of New Zealand."]

[Footnote W: Probably Rakau.]

[Footnote X: This is the name given in the deed of sale, dated February
24th, 1815, but the correct spelling is probably "Kuna" or "Kena."]