260 CAPTAIN COOK'S VOYAGES 



and as to ourselves, we were by this time too well acquainted 

 with his character to give much credit to such a story. The 

 following morning Poulaho, and the other chiefs who had 

 been wind-bound with him, arrived. I happened at this 

 time to be ashore in company with Feenou, who now 

 ssemed to be sensible of the impropriety of his conduct, in 

 assuming a character that did not belong to him. For 

 he not only acknowledged Poulaho to be king of Tongataboo 

 and the other isles, but affected to insist much on it, which 

 no doubt was with a view to make amends for his former 

 presumption. I left him to visit this greater man, whom 

 I found sitting with a few people before him. But every one 

 hastening to pay court to him, the circle increased pretty 

 fast. I was very desirous of observing Feenou's behaviour 

 on this occasion, and had the most convincing proof of his 

 inferiority ; for he placed himself amongst the rest that sat 

 before Poulaho as attendants on his majesty. Both he and 

 Poulaho went on board with me to dinner ; but only the 

 latter sat at table. Feenou having made his obeisance in 

 the usual way, saluting his sovereign's foot with his head 

 and hands, retired out of the cabin. The king had before 

 told us that this would happen ; and it now appeared 

 that Feenou could not even eat or drink in his royal 

 presence. 



" At eight o'clock next morning we steered for Tongata- 

 boo, having a gentle breeze at north-east. About fourteen 

 or fifteen sailing vessels belonging to the natives set out 

 with us ; but every one of them outran the ships con- 

 siderably. In the afternoon of next day we came to an 

 anchor off that island in a safe station. 



" Soon after I landed, accompanied by Omai and some 

 of the officers. We found the king waiting for us upon the 

 beach. He immediately conducted us to a small neat 

 house, situated a little within the skirts of the woods, with 

 a fine large area before it. This house, he told me, was at 

 my service during our stay at the island ; and a better 

 situation we could not wish for. 



" We had not been long in the house before a pretty large 

 circle of the natives were assembled before us, and seated 

 upon the area. A root of the kava plant being brought 

 and laid down before the king, he ordered it to be split into 

 pieces, and distributed to several people of both sexes, who 

 began the operation of chewing it ; and a bowl of their 

 favourite liquor was soon prepared. In the meantime a 

 baked hog and two baskets of baked yams were produced, 

 and afterwards divided into ten portions. These portions 

 were then given to certain people present ; but how many 

 were to share in each I could not tell. The liquor was next 



