as the day-light returned, being then close in with Foa, we saw
it was joined to Haanno, by a reef running even with the surface of the
sea, from the one island to the other. I now dispatched a boat to look
for anchorage. A proper place was soon found; and we came-to, abreast of
a reef, being that which joins Lefooga to Foa (in the same manner that
Foa is joined to Haanno), having twenty-four fathoms depth of water; the
bottom coral sand. In this station, the northern point of Hepaee, or
the north end of Haanno, bore N., 16 deg. E. The southern point of Hepaee,
or the south end of Hoolaiva, S., 29 deg. W.; and the north end of Lefooga,
S., 65 deg. E. Two ledges of rocks lay without us; the one bearing S., 50 deg.
W.; and the other W. by N. 1/2 N., distant two or three miles. We lay
before a creek in the reef, which made it convenient landing at all
times; and we were not above three quarters of a mile from the shore.

SECTION V.

_Arrival of the Ships at Hepaee, and friendly Reception there.--Presents
and Solemnities on the Occasion.--Single Combats with Clubs.--Wrestling
and Boxing Matches.--Female Combatants.--Marines exercised.--A Dance
performed by Men.--Fireworks exhibited.--The Night-entertainments of
Singing and Dancing particularly described_.

By the time we had anchored, (May 17) the ships were filled with the
natives, and surrounded by a multitude of canoes, filled also with them.
They brought from the shore, hogs, fowls, fruit, and roots, which they
exchanged for hatchets, knives, nails, beads, and cloth. Feenou and Omai
having come on board, after it was light, in order to introduce me to
the people of the island, I soon accompanied them on shore, for that
purpose, landing at the north part of Lefooga, a little to the right of
the ship's station.

The chief conducted me to a house, or rather a hut, situated close to
the sea-beach, which I had seen brought thither, but a few minutes
before, for our reception. In this, Feenou, Omai, and myself, were
seated. The other chiefs, and the multitude, composed a circle, on the
outside, fronting us; and they also sat down. I was then asked, How long
I intended to stay? On my saying, Five days, Taipa was ordered to come
and sit by me, and proclaim this to the people. He then harangued them,
in a speech mostly dictated by Feenou. The purport of it, as I learnt
from Omai, was, that they were all, both old and young, to look upon me
as a friend, who intended to re