328 cook's voyage to may, 



owned to me that Feenou was not the king, but only 

 a subordinate chief, though of great power, as he 

 was often sent from Tongataboo to the other islands 

 on warlike expeditions, or to decide differences. It 

 being my interest as well as my inclination to pay 

 court to all the great men, without making inquiry 

 into the validity of their assumed titles; I invited 

 Poulaho on board, as I understood he was very de- 

 sirous to come. He could not be an unwelcome 

 guest ; for he brought with him, as a present to me, 

 two good fat hogs, though not so fat as himself. If 

 weight of body could give weight in rank or power, 

 he was certainly the most eminent man in that re- 

 spect we had seen ; for, though not very tall, he 

 was very unwieldy, and almost shapeless with cor- 

 pulence. He seemed to be about forty years of age, 

 had straight hair, and his features differed a good 

 deal from those of the bulk of his people. I found 

 him to be a sedate sensible man. He viewed the 

 ship and the several new objects with uncommon 

 attention ; and asked many pertinent questions, one 

 of which was, what could induce us to visit these 

 islands ? After he had satisfied his curiosity in look- 

 ing at the cattle, and other novelties which he met 

 with upon deck, I desired him to walk down into 

 the cabin. To this some of his attendants objected, 

 saying, that if he were to accept of that invitation, 

 it must happen that people would walk over his 

 head, which could not be permitted. I directed my 

 interpreter Omai to tell them, that I would obviate 

 their objection, by giving orders that no one should 

 presume to walk upon that part of the deck which 

 was over the cabin. Whether this expedient would 

 have satisfied them was far from appearing ; but the 

 chief himself less scrupulous in this respect than his 

 attendants, waved all ceremony, and walked down 

 without any stipulation. He now appeared to be as 

 solicitous himself as his people were, to convince us 

 that he was king, and not Feenou, who had passed 



