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1777- yet no one was troublefome; but the v_— -- greateft good order 1 was preferved, throughout the whole aflembly.
Before I returned on board, I went in fearch of a watering
place, and was conducted to fome ponds, or rather holes,
containing freih water, as they were pleafed to call it. The
contents of one of thefe, indeed, were tolerable; but it was at fome diftance inland, and the fupply to be got from it was very inconfiderable. Being informed, that the little illand of Pangimodoo, near which the ihips lay, could better furniih this neceflary article, I went over to it, next
Wednef. u. morning, and was fo fortunate as to find there a fmall pool,
that had rather frefher water, than any we had met with amongft thefe iflands. The pool being very dirty, I ortdheer
edih iipts .to be cleaned ; and here it was that we watered
As I intended to make fome ftay at Tongataboo, we pitched a tent, in the forenoon, juft by the houfe which
Poulaho had afligned for our ufe.. The horfes, cattle, and
fheep, were -afterward landed, and a party of marines, with their Officer, Rationed there as a guard. The obferva- tory was then letup, at a fmall diftance from the other tent;' and Mr. King refided on ihore, to attend the obfer.vations, and to fuperintend the feveral operations neceflary to be
conduited there. For the fails were carried thither, to be repaired ; a party was employed in cutting wood for fuel, and plank for the ufe of the ihips; and the gunners of both, were ordered to remain upon the fpot, to conduit the traffic with the natives, who thronged from every part of the illand, with hogs, yams, cocoa-nuts; and other articles
of their produce. In a fliort time, our land poft was like a fhaaidr, haanrdd ltyh ero iohmip sto w fteirre u pfoo nc rtohwe ddeedc kws.ith viliters, that we
Feenou
Feenou had taken up his refidence in our neighbourhood; but he was no longer the leading man. However, we ftill found him to be a perfon of confequence, and we had daily proofs of his opulence and liberality, by the continuance of his valuable prefents. But the king was equally attentive
in this refpeit; for fcarcely a day palled, without receiving from him fome confiderable donation. We now heard, that there were other great men of the illand, whom we had
not, as yet, feen. Otago and Toobou, in particular, mentioned
a perfon named Mareewagee, who, they faid, was of the firft confequence in the place, and held in great veneration
; nay, if Omai did not mifunderftand them, fuperior
even to Poulaho, to whom he was related ; but, being old, lived in retirement; and, therefore, 'would not vifit us. Some of the natives even hinted, that he was too great a man to confer that honour upon us. This account exciting my curiofity-, I, this day, mentioned to Poulaho, that I was
very defirous of waiting upon Mareewagee ; and he readily
agreed to accompany me, to the place of his refidence, the
next morning.
Accordingly, we fet out, pretty early, in the pinnace;
and Captain Clerke joined me in one of his own boats.
We proceeded round, that is, to the Eaftward of the little illes that form the harbour, and then, turning to the South, according
to Poulaho’s directions, entered a fpacious bay or inlet, up which we rowed about a league,’ and landed amidft a confiderable number of people, who received us with a fort of- acclamation, not unlike our huzzaing. They immediately
feparated, to let Poulaho pafs, who took us into a
fam naelwl inpcielocfeu, rne,e aatnlyd ffholidfteedd, tthhea tp iwecaes ocfa rcrloietdh hbey wao ryeo, ufnogr
man. An old woman aflifted in drefling him, and put a
V o l . I. O o mat