A VOYAGE TO 
264 
found before the Blips. But before we would get under 
fail, the wind became unfettled; which made it unfafe 
to attempt a palfage this way, till we were better ac¬ 
quainted with it. I, therefore, lay fall, and made the lignal 
for the Mailer to return ; and afterward feat him and the 
Maher of the Difcovery, each in a boat, with inllrudfions 
to examine the channels, as far as they could, allowing 
themfelves time to get back to the Blips before the clofe of 
the dav. 
j 
About noon, a large failing canoe came under our Bern, 
in which was a perfon named Futtafaihe, or Poulaho, or 
•both ; who, as the natives then on board told us, was King 
of Tongataboo, and of all the neighbouring illands that we 
-had feen or heard of. It was a matter of furprize to me, to 
■have a ftranger introduced under this character, which I 
had fo much reafon to believe really belonged to another. 
But they perBlfed in their account of the fupreme dig¬ 
nity of this new vifiter; and now, for the Bril time, they 
owned to me, that Feenou was not the King, but only a 
fubordinate Chief, though of great power; as he was often 
fent from Tongataboo to the other illands, on warlike expe¬ 
ditions, or to decide differences. It being my interelf, as 
well as my inclination, to pay court to all' the great men, 
without making inquiry into the validity of their alfumed 
titles, I invited Poulaho on board; as I underltood he was 
very delirous to come. He could not be an unwelcome 
guelf; for he brought with him, as a prefent to me, two 
good fat hogs ; though not fo fat as himfelf. If weight of 
body could give weight in rank or power, he was certainly 
the molf eminent man in that refpedi, we had feen; for, 
though not very tall, he was very unwieldy, and almolf 
fhapelefs with corpulence. He feemed to be about forty 
years 
