felf. I attended the Chief in my own boat, having firft made prefents to him, of fuch articles as, I could obferve, he valued much, and were even beyond his expedlation to receive. I was not difappointed in my view of thus fecur-
ing his friendlhip; for the moment the boat reached the beach, and, before he quitted her, he ordered two more hogs to be brought, and delivered to my people to be conveyed
on board. He was then carried out of the boat, by
fome of his own people, upon a board refembling a hand- barrow, and went and feated himfelf in a finali houfe near the ihore; which feemed to have been erefted there for his accommodation. He placed me at his fide; and his attendants,
who were not numerous, feated themfelves in a femi-;
circle before us, on the outfide of the houfe. Behind the Chief, or rather on one fide, fat an old woman, with a fort of fan in her hand, whofe office it was to prevent his being peftered with the flies.
The feveral articles which his people had got, by trading
on board the ihips, were now difplayed before him. He looked over them all, with attention, inquired what they had given in exchange, and feemed pleafed gains they had made. At length, he ordered weviethry tthhei nbga tro
be reftored to the refpeftive owners, except a glafs bowl, with which he was fo much pleafed, that he referred it for himfelf. The perfons who brought thefe things to him,
firft fquaited themfelves down before him, then they depo-
fited their feveral purch'afes, and immediately rofe up and
retired. The fame refpeflful ceremony was obferved in taking them away; and not one of them prefumed to fpeak htoi mh,i mfi rHft apnadyiningg. hIi mf laoybeedif atinllc efe, vbeyr abl oowfi nhgis tahtete hnedaadn tds olwefnt
to the foie of his foot, and touching or tapping the fame,, p with
with the upper and under fide of the fingers of both hands. «yr-
Others, who were not in the circle, came, as it feemed, on t_
purpofe, and paid him this mark of refpeit, and then re-
■ tired, without fpeaking a word. I was quite charmed with the decorum that was obferved. I had, no where, feen the
like, not eve’n amongft more civilized nations.
I found the mafter returned from his expedition, when I
got on board. He informed me, that, as far as he had pn>
ceeded, there was anchorage, and a paflage for the ihips;
but that, toward the South and South Eaft, he faw a number
of fmall ifles, ffioals, and breakers. Judging, from this
report, that my attempting a paflage that way would be attended
with fome riik, I now dropped all thoughts of it; thinking it better to return toward Annamooka by the fame route, which we had fo lately experienced to be a
fafe one.
Having come to this refolution, I ffiould have failed next wedner. 28. morning, if the wind had not been too far Southerly, and, at the fame time, very unfettled. Poulaho, the king, as I
ffiall now call him, came on board betimes ; and brought, as a prefent to me, one of their caps, made, or, at leaft, covered, with red feathers. Thefe caps were much foughc
after by us; for we knew they would be highly valued at Otaheite. But, though very large prices were offered, not one
was ever brought for fale; which fliewed, that they were no lefs valuable in the eftimation of the people here; nor was
there a perfon in either ihip, that could make himfelf the* proprietor of one, except myfelf, Captain Clerke, and Omai.
Thefe caps, or rather bonnets, are compofed of the tail feathers
of the Tropic bird, with the red feathers of the parro- quets wrought upon them, Mor mjo in2 tly with them. Themy aadree