1?77. THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 309 



a man came off to the ships and ordered every one 

 of the natives to go on shore. Probably this was 

 done with a view to have the whole body of 

 inhabitants present at the ceremony of my reception, 

 for when that was over multitudes of them returned 

 again to the ships. 



Next morning early, Feenou and Omai, who 

 scarcely ever quitted the chief, and now slept on 

 shore, came on board. The object of the visit, was 

 to require my presence upon the island. After 

 some time I accompanied them, and upon landing was 

 conducted to the same place where I had been seated 

 the day before, and where I saw a large concourse 

 of people already assembled. I guessed that some- 

 thing more than ordinary was in agitation, but could 

 not tell what, nor could Omai inform me. 



I had not been long seated, before near a hun- 

 dred of the natives appeared in sight, and advanced 

 laden with yams, bread-fruit, plantains, cocoa-nuts, 

 and sugar-canes. They deposited their burdens in 

 two heaps or piles, upon our left, being the side 

 they came from. Soon after, arrived a number of 

 others from the right, bearing the same kind of 

 articles ; which were collected into two piles upon 

 that side. To these were tied two pigs and six 

 fowls, and to those upon the left six pigs and two 

 turtles. Earoupa seated himself before the several 

 articles upon the left, and another chief before 

 those upon the right; they being as I judged, the 

 two chiefs who had collected them, by order of 

 Feenou, who seemed to be as implicitly obeyed 

 here as he had been at Annamooka ; and, in con- 

 sequence of his commanding superiority over the 

 chiefs of Hapaee, had laid his tax upon them for the 

 present occasion. 



As soon as this munificent collection of provisions 

 was laid down in order, and disposed to the best 

 advantage, the bearers of it joined the multitude, 

 who formed a large circle round the whole. Pre- 



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