THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
187 
of the others met us, holding the green boughs, of a fpe- 1777. 
cies of Mimofa , in their hands, and faluted us by applying f A ^ lL 
their nofes to ours. 
We were conducted from the beach by our guides, 
amidft a great crowd of people, who flocked with very 
eager curiofity to look at us ; and would have prevented our 
proceeding, had not fome men, who feemed to have autho¬ 
rity, dealt blows, with little diftinction, amongfl them, to 
keep them off. We were then led up an avenue of cocoa- 
palms ; and foon came to a number of men, arranged in 
two rows, armed with clubs, which they held on their 
ihoulders, much in the manner we reft a mufquet. After 
walking a little way amongft thefe, we found a perfon 
who feemed a Chief, fitting on the ground crofs-legged, 
cooling himfelf with a fort of triangular fan, made from 
a leaf of the cocoa-palm, with a poliflied handle, of black 
wood, fixed to one comer. In his ears were large bunches 
of beautiful red feathers, which pointed forward. But he 
had no other mark, or ornament, to diftinguifh him from 
the reft of the people; though they all obeyed him with 
the greateft alacrity. He either naturally had, or at this 
time put on, a ferious, but not fevere countenance ; and we 
were defired to falute him as he fat, by fome people who 
feemed of confequence. 
We proceeded ftill amongft the men armed with clubs, 
and came to a fecond Chief, who fat fanning himfelf, and 
ornamented as the firft. He was remarkable for his fize, 
and uncommon corpulence, though, to appearance, not 
above thirty years of age. In the fame manner, we were 
conduced to a third Chief, who feemed older than the two 
former, and, though not fo fat as the fecond, was of a large 
fize. He alfo was fitting, and adorned with red feathers; 
B b 2 and 
