262 cook's first voyage august, 



amusement, though they seem very fond of it, they 

 do not excel, for not above one in twelve struck the 

 mark, which was the bole of a plantain tree, at about 

 twenty yards distance. 



On the 6th, we all staid at home, expecting the 

 visit of the great king, but we were disappointed ; 

 we had, however, much more agreeable company, 

 for he sent three very pretty girls to demand some- 

 thing in return for his present : perhaps he was un- 

 willing to trust himself on board the ship, or perhaps 

 he thought his messengers would procure a more 

 valuable return for his hogs and poultry than he 

 could himself ; be that as it may, we did not regret 

 his absence, nor his messengers their visit. 



In the afternoon, as the great king would not 

 come to us, we determined to go to the great king. 

 As he was lord of the Bolabola men, the conquerors 

 of this, and the terror of all the other islands, we 

 expected to see a chief young and vigorous, with an 

 intelligent countenance, and an enterprising spirit : we 

 found, however, a poor feeble wretch, withered and 

 decrepit, half blind with age, and so sluggish and 

 stupid that he appeared scarcely to have understand- 

 ing enough left to know that it was probable we 

 should be gratified either by hogs or women. He did 

 not receive us sitting, or with any state or formality as 

 the other chiefs had done : we made him our present, 

 which he accepted, and gave a hog in return. We 

 had learnt that his principal residence was at Otaha ; 

 and upon our telling him that we intended to go 

 thither in our boats the next morning, and that we 

 should be glad to have him along with us, he pro- 

 mised to be of the party. 



Early in the morning, therefore, I set out both 

 with the pinnace and long-boat for Otaha, having 

 some of the gentlemen with me ; and in our way we 

 called upon Opoony, who was in his canoe, ready to 

 join us. As soon as we landed at Otaha, I made him 

 a present of an axe, which 1 thought might induce 



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