The following morning Poulaho, and the other chiefs who had been wind-bound with him, arrived.  I happened, at this time, to be ashore in company with Feenou, who now seemed to be sensible of the impropriety of his conduct, in assuming a character that did not belong to him.  For he not only acknowledged Poulaho to be King of Tongataboo, and the other isles, but affected to insist much on it, which, no doubt, was with a view to make amends for his former presumption.  I left him to visit this greater man, whom I found sitting with a few people before him.  But every one hastening to pay court to him, the circle increased pretty fast.  I was very desirous of observing Feenou’s behaviour on this occasion, and had the most convincing proof of his superiority, for he placed himself amongst the rest that sat before Poulaho, as attendants on his majesty.  He seemed at first rather abashed, as some of us were present who had been used to see him act a different part; but he soon recovered himself.  Some little conversation passed between these two chiefs, which none of us understood, nor were we satisfied with Omai’s interpretation of it.  We were, however, by this time sufficiently undeceived as to Feenou’s rank.  Both he and Poulaho went on board with me to dinner, but only the latter sat at table.  Feenou, having made his obeisance in the usual way, saluting his sovereign’s foot with his head and hands, retired out of the cabin.[164] The king had before told us that this would happen, and it now appeared that Feenou could not even eat or drink in his royal presence.

[Footnote 164:  Marks of profound respect, very similar to those paid by natives of the Friendly Islands to their sovereign, are also paid to the principal chiefs, or Tamoles, of the Caroline Islands, as appears from Father Cantova’s account here transcribed.  “Lorsqu’un Tamole donne audience, il paroit assis sur une table elevee:  les peuples s’inclinent devant lui jusqu’a terre; et du plus loin qu’ils arrivent, il marchent le corps tout courbe, et la tete presqu’entre les genoux, jusqu’a ce qu’ils soient aupres de sa personne; alors ils s’asseyent a plate terre; et, les yeux baisses, il recoivent ses ordres avec le plus profond respect.  Quand le Tamole les congedie, ils se retirent, en se courbant de la meme maniere que quand ils sont venus, et ne se relevent que lorsqu’ils sont hors de sa presence.  Ses paroles sont autant d’oracles qu’on revere; on rend a ses ordres une obeissance aveugle; enfin, on baise les mains et les pieds, quand on lui demande quelque grace.”—­Lettres Edifiantes et Curieuses, tom. xv. p. 312, 313.—­D.]

At eight o’clock next morning we weighed and steered for Tongataboo, having a gentle breeze at N.E.  About fourteen or fifteen sailing-vessels, belonging to the natives, set out with us, but every one of them outrun the ships considerably.  Feenou was to have taken his passage in the Resolution, but preferred his own canoe, and put two men on board to conduct us to the best anchorage.  We steered S. by W. by compass.