He could not be an unwelcome guest, for he brought with him, as a present to me, two good fat hogs, though not so fat as himself, if weight of body could give weight in rank and power, he was certainly the most eminent man in that respect we had seen; for, though not very tall, he was very unwieldy, and almost shapeless with corpulence.  He seemed to be about forty years of age, had straight hair, and his features differed a good deal from those of the bulk of his people.  I found him to be a sedate, sensible man.  He viewed the ship, and the several new objects, with uncommon attention, and asked many pertinent questions, one of which was, What could induce us to visit these islands?  After he had satisfied his curiosity in looking at the cattle, and other novelties which he met with upon deck, I desired him to walk down into the cabin.  To this some of his attendants objected, saying, that if he were to accept of that invitation, it must happen, that people would walk over his head, which could not be permitted.  I directed my interpreter Omai, to tell them that I would obviate their objection, by giving orders that no one should presume to walk upon that part of the deck which was over the cabin.  Whether this expedient would have satisfied them was far from appearing, but the chief himself, less scrupulous in this respect than his attendants, waved all ceremony, and walked down without any stipulation.  He now appeared to be as solicitous himself, as his people were, to convince us that he was king, and not Feenou, who had passed with us as such; for he soon perceived that we had some doubts about it, which doubts Omai was not very desirous of removing.  The closest connection had been formed between him and Feenou, in testimony of which they had exchanged names; and therefore he was not a little chagrined, that another person now put in his claim to the honours which his friend had hitherto enjoyed.

Poulaho sat down with us to dinner, but he ate little, and drank less.  When we rose from the table, he desired me to accompany him ashore.  Omai was asked to be of the party, but he was too faithfully attached to Feenou to shew any attention to his competitor, and therefore excused himself.  I attended the chief in my own boat, having first made presents to him of such articles as I could observe he valued much, and were even beyond his expectation to receive.  I was not disappointed in my view of thus securing his friendship, for the moment the boat reached the beach, and before he quitted her, he ordered two more hogs to be brought, and delivered to my people to be conveyed on board.  He was then carried out of the boat by some of his own people, upon a board resembling a hand-barrow, and went and seated himself in a small house near the shore, which seemed to have been erected there for his accommodation.  He placed me at his side, and his attendants, who were not numerous, seated themselves in a semicircle before us, on the outside of the house.  Behind the chief, or rather on one side, sat an old woman, with a sort of fan in her hand, whose office it was to prevent his being pestered with the flies.