My friend Attago having visited me again next morning, as usual, brought with him a hog, and assisted me in purchasing several more.  Afterwards we went ashore; visited the old king, with whom we staid till noon, then returned on board to dinner, with Attago, who never once left me.  Intending to sail next morning, I made up a present for the old king, and carried it on shore in the evening.  As soon as I landed, I was told by the officers who were on shore, that a far greater man than any we had yet seen was come to pay us a visit.  Mr Pickersgill informed me that he had seen him in the country, and found that he was a man of some consequence, by the extraordinary respect paid him by the people.  Some, when they approached him, fell on their faces, and put their head between their feet; and no one durst pass him without permission.  Mr Pickersgill, and another of the gentlemen, took hold of his arms, and conducted him down to the landing-place, where I found him seated with so much sullen and stupid gravity, that notwithstanding what had been told me, I really took him for an idiot, whom the people, from some superstitious notions, were ready to worship.  I saluted and spoke to him; but he neither answered, nor took the least notice of me; nor did he alter a single feature in his countenance.  This confirmed me in my opinion, and I was just going to leave him, when one of the natives, an intelligent youth, undertook to undeceive me; which he did in such a manner as left me no room to doubt that he was the king, or principal man on the island.  Accordingly I made him the present I intended for the old chief, which consisted of a shirt, an axe, a piece of red cloth, a looking-glass, some nails, medals, and beads.  He received these things, or rather suffered them to be put upon him, and laid down by him, without losing a bit of his gravity, speaking one word, or turning his head either to the right or left; sitting the whole time like a statue; in which situation I left him to return on board, and he soon after retired.  I had not been long on board before word was brought me, that a quantity of provisions had come from this chief.  A boat was sent to bring it from the shore; and it consisted of about twenty baskets of roasted bananoes, sour bread, and yams, and a roasted pig of about twenty pounds weight.  Mr Edgcumbe and his party were just re-embarking, when these were brought to the water-side, and the bearers said it was a present from the Areeke, that is, the king of the island, to the Areeke of the ship.  After this I was no longer to doubt the dignity of this sullen chief.