FEJEE ISLANDS. 141 



to assure him that we were pleased to see him, and to add, that 

 it was our intention, before he left the ship, to fire a large 

 salute. The king being satisfied with this explanation, a 

 council was held, which resulted in the adoption of rules and 

 regulations for the intercourse of American vessels, similar to 

 those established at the Navigator and Society Islands.* This 

 business over, Captain Wilkes invited all the company into 

 the cabin, where a collation was prepared. The sight of so 

 many new things as the cabin presented, excited their highest 

 admiration and wonder. In about half an hour the king rose 

 up and expressed a wish to examine the ship ; upon which, 

 Captain W. took him around all the decks. He expressed 

 great astonishment at the number and size of our guns and at 

 the ship's wheel, and observed, that he could not understand 

 how we could steer our " big canoe" by such contrivance. 



On returning to the spar-deck the salute was ordered to be 

 fired. He was greatly terrified at the firing of the third gun, 

 which had been charged with a stand of grape that he might 

 see their effect, and desired the interpreter to say to Captain 

 Wilkes that he was satisfied, and request him to stop firing. 

 When the company returned to the quarter-deck, the purser 

 made them suitable presents in the name of the government ; 

 these consisted of axes, plain-irons, accordions, whales' teeth, 

 shawls, muskets, watches, Windsor soap, tobacco and pipes ; 

 they were received with much clapping of hands. His majesty 

 was highly delighted after this on seeing the marine guard go 

 through the manual exercise. In expressing their satisfaction 

 at anything, they repeat the word " vinaka" several times 

 very quickly. Nothing more of importance passed, and shortly 

 after, the king rose to take his leave. The guard was turned 



* A copy of these Rules may be seen in the Appendix. 



