330 cook's voyage to may, 



the respective owners, except a glass bowl, with 

 which he was so much pleased that he reserved it for 

 himself. The persons who brought these things to 

 him first squatted themselves down before him, then 

 they deposited their several purchases, and immedi- 

 ately rose up and retired. The same respectful 

 ceremony was observed in taking them away ; and 

 not one of them presumed to speak to him standing. 

 I stayed till several of his attendants left him, first 

 paying him obeisance, by bowing the head down to 

 the sole of his foot, and touching or tapping the same 

 with the upper and under side of the fingers of both 

 hands. Others who were not in the circle came, as 

 it seemed, on purpose, and paid him this mark of 

 respect, and then retired without speaking a word. 

 I was quite charmed with the decorum that was ob- 

 served. 1 had no where seen the like, not even 

 amongst more civilized nations. 



I found the master returned from his expedition 

 when I got on board. He informed me, that, as far 

 as he had proceeded, there was anchorage and a 

 a passage for the ships ; but that towards the south 

 and south-east he saw a number of small isles, shoals, 

 and breakers. Judging from this report that my at- 

 tempting a passage that way would be attended with 

 some risk, I now dropped all thoughts of it, thinking 

 it better to return toward Annamooka by the same 

 route, which we had so lately experienced to be a 

 safe one. 



Having come to this resolution, I should have 

 sailed next morning, if the wind had not been too 

 far southerly, and, at the same time, very unsettled. 

 Poulaho, the king, as I shall now call him, came on 

 board betimes, and brought as a present to me, one 

 of their caps, made, or at least covered with red 

 feathers. These caps were much sought after by 

 us, for we knew they would be highly valued at 

 Otaheite. But though very large prices were of- 

 fered, not one was ever brought for sale; which 



