THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
267 
to the foie of his foot, and touching or tapping the fame, 1777. 
with the upper and under lide of the fingers of both hands. , Ma) ' , 
Others, who were not in the circle, came, as it feemed, on 
purpofe, and paid him this mark of refpecl, and then re¬ 
tired, without fpeaking a word. I was quite charmed with 
the decorum that was obferved. I had, no where, feen the 
like, not even amongft more civilized nations. 
I found the mailer returned from his expedition, when I 
got on board. He informed me, that, as far as he had pro¬ 
ceeded, there was anchorage, and a paffage for the fhips; 
but that, toward the South and South Eaft, he faw a num¬ 
ber of fmall illes, fhoals, and breakers. Judging, from this 
report, that my attempting a paffage that w r ay would be at¬ 
tended with fome rilk, I now dropped all thoughts of it; 
thinking it better to return tow'ard Annamooka by the 
fame route, which we had fo lately experienced to be a 
fafe one. 
Having come to this refolution, I fhould have failed next Wednef. 23. 
morning, if the wind had not been too far Southerly, and, 
at the fame time, very unfettled. Poulaho, the king, as I 
fhall now call him, came on board betimes ; and brought, 
as a prefent to me, one of their caps, made, or, at leafi, 
covered, with red feathers. Thefe caps were much fought 
after by us; for we knew they would be highly valued at 
Otaheite. But, though very large prices were offered, not 
one was ever brought for fale; which fhewed, that they 
were no lefs valuable in the ellimation of the people here ; 
nor was there a perfon in either lhip, that could make him- 
feIf the proprietor of one, except myfelf, Captain Clerke, 
and Omai. Thefe caps, or rather bonnets, are compofed 
of the tail feathers of the Tropic bird, with the red fea¬ 
thers of the parroquets wrought upon them, or jointly with 
M m 2 them. 
