A VOYAGE TO 
3 2 
I 777* 
May. 
Wednef. 7. 
Thurfday 8. 
into which, the Chief ordered three hogs to he put, as a 
return for the prefents he had received from me. I was 
now informed of an accident which had juft happened, 
the relation of which will convey fome idea of the extent 
of the authority exercifed here over the common people. 
While Feenou was on board my ftiip, an inferior Chief, 
for what reafon our people on fhore did not know, ordered 
all the natives to retire from the poft we occupied. Some 
of them having ventured to return, he took up a large 
ftick, and beat them moft unmercifully. He ftruck one 
man, on the tide of the face, with fo much violence, that 
the blood gufhed out of his mouth and noftrils; and, after 
lying fome time motionlefs, he was, at laft, removed from 
the place, in convulftons. The perfon who had inflicted 
the blow, being told that he had killed the man, only 
laughed at it; and, it was evident, that he was not in the 
leaft lorry for what had happened. We heard, afterward, 
that the poor fufferer recovered. 
The Difcovery having found again her fmall bower an¬ 
chor, Ihifted her birth on the 7th; but not before her beft 
bower cable had fhared the fate of the other. This day, I 
had the company of Feenou at dinner; and alfo the next 
day, when he was attended by Taipa, Toobou, and fome 
other Chiefs. It was remarkable, that none but Taipa was al¬ 
lowed to fit at table with him, or even to eat in his prefence. 
I own that I confidered Feenou as a very convenient gueft, 
on account of this etiquette. For, before his arrival, I had, 
generally, a larger company than I could well find room 
for, and my table overflowed with crowds of both fexes. 
For it is not the cuftom at the Friendly Iflands, as it is at 
Otaheite, to deny to their females the privilege of eating 
in company with the men. 
The 
