THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
4°7 
iiles. Its inhabitants, in common converfation, call it the 
Land of Chiefs; while the fubordinate ifl.es are diftinguifh- 
ed by the appellation of Lands of Servants. 
Thefe Chiefs are, by the people, Hyled not only Lords of 
the Earth, but of the Sun and Sky; and the king’s family 
affume the name of Futtafaihe, from the God fo called, who 
is probably their tutelary patron, and perhaps their com¬ 
mon anceltor. The fovereign’s peculiar earthly title is, 
however, limply Tooee Tonga. 
There is a decorum obferved in the prefence of their 
principal men, and particularly of their king, that is truly 
admirable. Whenever he fits down, whether it be in an 
houle, or without, all the attendants feat themfelves, at the 
fame time, in a femicircle before him; leaving always a 
convenient fpace between him and them, into which no 
one attempts to come, unlefs he has fome particular bufi- 
nefs. Neither is any one allowed to pafs, or fit, behind him, 
nor even near him, without his order or permiffion ; fo that 
our having been indulged with this privilege, was a ligni- 
ficant proof of the great refpedt that was paid us. When 
any one wants to fpeak with the king, he advances and fits 
down before him; delivers what he has to fay in a few 
words; and, having received his anfwer, retires again to 
the circle. But if the king fpeaks to any one, that perfon 
anfwers from his feat, unlefs he is to.receive fome order; in 
which cafe he gets up from his place, and fits down before 
the Chief with his legs acrofs; which is a polture to which 
they are fo much accultomed, that any other mode of fit¬ 
ting is difagreeable to them *. To fpeak to the king Hand¬ 
ing, would be accounted here as a ftriking mark of rudenefs 1 , 
1777. 
July. 
* This is peculiar to the men; the women always fitting with both legs thrown a 
little on one fide. We owe this remark to Captain King. 
as 
