NORTH WEST COAST OF AMERICA. 177 



The king and his retinue ftaidon board about two hours, ^ ^^^^ ^• 



and gratified their curiofity in looking at different parts of "^ — » 



the fhip, which they feemed greatly to admire. After December, 

 taking leave of me they went on board the Queen Char- ^^""^ ^^ ^°' 

 lotte, where they flopped a fhort time, and then returned 

 on fliore. Abbenooe attended his majefty to fee him fafely 

 landed, and afterwards came on board for the night ; and 

 as he conftantly took up his abode with us, I had ordered 

 a cot to be hung for him in the cabin, which pleafed him 

 fo much that he never flept out of it. 



Vast numbers of canoes came off on the 31ft, bring- Sunday 31. 

 ing hogs and vegetables as ufual ; the king alfo paid me a 

 vifit, accompanied by an elderly man named Neeheowhooa, 

 who I underftood was his uncle, and a perfon of the firft 

 confequence. This old chief has, it feems, in his time, 

 been one of the greateft warriors that Atoui, or any of the 

 iflands could boaft of, and has been greatly inftrumental 

 in fettling them under their prefent kings Taheeterre and 

 Taaao; indeed his very appearance befpoke the hardy 

 veteran; his body was almoft covered with fears, and he 

 was quite a cripple; and to add to his diftreffing fituation, 

 he had entirely loft one eye, and the other was in a weak 

 ftate, occafioned by fome wounds he lately had received 

 in battle, and which were beyond their art to heal. Taaao 

 appeared very unhappy on account of his uncle's fituation, 

 and perhaps thinking that we could perform wonders, 

 begged of us to cure him. I recommended him to the 

 care of my furgeon, who wafhed his wounds, applied 

 dreffings to them, and gave him fome frefh ones, which 

 he was direfted to make ufe of once a-day. Neeheow- 

 hooa feemed perfedly to underftand the furgeon's inftruc- 



A a tions. 



