On 29th May they sailed for Tongatabu, but, the wind failing, they nearly ran ashore on the 31st on a low sandy island on which the sea was breaking very heavily.  Fortunately all hands had just been engaged in putting the ship about, “so that the necessary movements were not only executed with judgment but with alertness, and this alone saved the ship.”  Cook confesses that he was tired of beating about in these dangerous waters, and felt relieved to get back to his old anchorage off Annamooka.  Feenough here rejoined the ship, and his behaviour before Polaho was sufficient evidence as to the high position held by the latter, for he made a deep reverence to him, and afterwards would not eat or drink in his presence, but left the cabin as soon as dinner was announced.

An entertainment.

On 6th June they sailed for Tongatabu again, accompanied by some sailing canoes which could all easily outdistance the two ships.  A good anchorage was found, and Cook’s old friends, Otago and Toobough, were soon on board to greet them.  As it was proposed to make a short stay, the cattle were landed, the observatory set up, and the sail-makers set to work to overhaul the sails, for much-required repairs.  Cook speaks very highly of the orderly behaviour of the natives, many of whom had never seen a white man before.  Hearing much of an important chief named Mariwaggee, Cook persuaded the king to escort a party to his residence, which was found to be pleasantly situated on an inlet where most of the chiefs resided, surrounded by neatly fenced plantations; but they were informed that Mariwaggee had gone to see the ships.  This was found to be untrue, but the next day he appeared, accompanied by a large number of both sexes, and Cook at once landed with some presents for him, only to find he was accompanied by another chief, to whom something had to be given as well.  Fortunately the two were easily satisfied, and the present was divided between them.  Mariwaggee was found to be the father of Feenough, and the father-in-law of the king.  He gave a grand entertainment of singing and dancing in honour of the strangers, which commenced about eleven in the morning and lasted till between three and four in the afternoon, and wound up with a presentation of a large number of yams, each pair of the roots being tied to a stick about six feet long, and decorated with fish.  Cook says it was hard to say which was the most valuable, the yams for food or the sticks for firewood; but, as for the fish, “it might serve to please the sight, but was very offensive to the smell, as some of it had been kept two or three days for this occasion.”  More singing and dancing then took place, and then the English gave a display of fireworks, which “astonished and highly entertained” the natives.