274 
A VOYAGE TO 
1777. 
June. 
U— v- * 
Sunday 8. 
little converfation paffed between thefe two Chiefs, which 
none of ns underftood; nor were we fatisfied with Omai’s 
interpretation of it. We were, however, by this time, 
fnfficiently undeceived as to Feenou’s rank. Both he and 
Poulaho went on board with me to dinner; but only the 
latter fat at table. Feenou, having made his obeifance, in 
the ufual way, faluting his fovereign’s foot with his head 
and hands, retired out of the cabin *. The king had be¬ 
fore told us, that this would happen; and it now appeared, 
that Feenou could not even eat nor drink in his royal pre¬ 
fence. 
At eight o’clock, next morning, we weighed and fleer¬ 
ed for Tongataboo, having a gentle breeze at North Eaft. 
About fourteen or fifteen failing veffels, belonging to the 
natives, fet out with us; but every one of them outrun the 
flrips confiderably. Feenou was to have taken his paffage 
in the Refolution; but preferred his own canoe ; and put 
two men on board, to condu6t us to the bell anchorage. 
We fleered South by Weft by compafs. 
At five in the afternoon we faw two fmall iflands, bear- 
* Marks of profound refpech, very fimilar to thofe paid by natives of the Friendly 
Iflands to their fovereign, are alfo paid to the principal Chiefs, or Tamales of the Caroline 
Iflands, as appears from father Cantova’s account here tranfcribed. tc Lorfqu’un Tamole 
u donne audience, il paroit aflis fur une table elevee : les peuples s’inclinent devant lui 
“ jufqu’a terre; & du plus loin qu’ils arrivent, ils marchent le corps tout courbe, & la 
“ tete prefqu’entre les genoux, jufqu’a ce qu’ils foient aupres de la perfonne \ alors ils 
“ s’afleyent a plate terre; &, les yeux bailies, ils re^oivent fes ordres avec le plus profond 
u refpedt. Quand le Tamole les congedie, ils fe retirent, en fe courbant de la raeme 
“ maniere que quand ils font venus, & ne fe relevent que lorfqu’ils font hors de fa pre- 
fence. Ses paroles font autant d’oracles qu’on revere; on rend a fes ordres une 
“ obeiffance aveuglej enfin, on baife les mains & les pieds, quand on lui demands 
quelque grace.” Lett res Edifiantes & Curieufes , Tom. xv. p. 312, 313. 
mg 
