2i8 CAPTAIN COOK 



asked me several sensible questions. He asked 

 me, for example, what had caused us to put in 

 here." 



Cook overwhelmed Pulaho with various pres- 

 ents, which the latter generously reciprocated. 

 A genuine friendship was established between 

 the two men, and Pulaho invited Cook to come to 

 Tongatabu, the capital of all the islands. The 

 latter accepted, and after very dangerous navi- 

 gation, in the course of which both vessels 

 touched, without damage, on coral reefs, the 

 Resolution and Discovery anchored on June 

 loth at Tongatabu. 



Pulaho was on the shore to welcome his 

 guest. He led him himself into a little house, 

 clean and hospitable, which he put at his dis- 

 posal during his stay in the island. This house 

 stood on the edge of a wood, facing a large 

 prairie. The neighbourhood was cool and re- 

 freshing. 



The arrival of the English at Tongatabu was 

 followed by fetes and spectacles very like those 

 which they had witnessed at Haapai. The ex- 

 treme friendliness of the natives seemed unable 

 to exclude from among them the passion for 

 thieving rooted in the heart of their neighbours. 

 The islanders of Tongatabu were very sociable, 

 and liked to make frequent visits to the ships and 



