THEPACIFICOCEAN. 267 



with the upper and under fide of the fingers of both hands. '777- 

 Others, who were not in the circle, came, as it feemed, on l^-^'^. 

 purpofe, and paid him this mark of refpefl, and then re- 

 tired, without fpeaking a word. I was quite charmed with 

 the decorum that was obferved. I had, no where, feen-the 

 like, not even amongfl: more civilized nations. 



I found the mafter returned from his expedition, when I 

 got on board. He informed me, that, as far as he had pro- 

 ceeded, there was anchorage, and a pafTage for the fhips ; 

 but that, toward the South and South Eaft, he faw a num- 

 ber of fmall iiles, flioals, and breakers. Judging, from this 

 report, that my attempting a pafTage that way would be at- 

 tended with fome rifk, I now dropped all thoughts of it ; 

 thinking it better to return toward Annamooka by the 

 fame route, which we had fo lately experienced to be a 

 fafe one. 



Having come to this refolution, I fhould have failed next wednef. 28. 

 morning, if the wind had not been too far Southerly, and, 

 at the fame time, very unfettled. Poulaho, the king, as I 

 ihall now call him, came on board betimes ; and brought, 

 as a prefent to me, one of their caps, made, or, at leaft, 

 covered, with red feathers. Thefe caps were much foughc 

 after by us ; for we knew they would be highly valued at 

 Otaheite. Bur, though very large prices were offered, not one 

 was ever brought for fale ; which fliewed, that they were no * 



lefs valuable in the eflimation of the people here ; nor was 

 there a perfon in either fliip, that could make himfelf the 

 proprietor of one, except myfelf. Captain Gierke, and Omai. 

 Thefe caps, or rather bonnets, are compofed of the tail fea- 

 thers of the Tropic bird, with the red feathers of the parro- 

 quets wrought upon them, or jointly with them. They are 



M m 2 made 



