king, who was of a very irritable temper, contrary to the expectation of every one, kept himself perfectly cool, and said nothing. When he had arrived near enough to address them conveniently, he made a speech of about an hour's length, in which, with a wonderful degree of art and eloquence, he endeavoured to persuade them that he was perfectly innocent of the death of Toobo Nuha; and that he should be exceedingly sorry if their mistaken notions of his sentiments and conduct should occasion a war with Vavaoo. He told them how much he loved and respected his aunt, and how unhappy he should be, if the late unfortunate affair, which he could neither well foresee nor help, should occasion a quarrel with her. Nothing grieved him more, he said, than that his best intentions should be thus regarded with suspicion; but he hoped that their candour and liberality, upon a little cool reflection, would lead them to place that confidence in him, which his own consciousness of upright intentions gave him reason to expect, and he trusted that they would submit to his rule and government as formerly. To this, some of the Vavaoo chiefs replied, that they should be willing enough to acknowledge him king, as formerly, provided he would reside altogether at Vavaoo, and interdict all communication with the Hapai people, among whom there were many designing chiefs, of whose treacherous policy they had good reason to be afraid. Or, if he did not choose to remain altogether at Vavaoo, he might reside at Hapai, and they would send him annual tribute, as usual, upon condition that neither he, nor his chiefs, nor any of the people of Hapai, would visit

5

Vavaoo under any pretext whatsoever; for, as they were quite tired of disturbances and insurrections, they heartily wished to keep away all who were promoters of discord, all ambitious and discontented chiefs; all, in short, whose tempers were too fickle to love a peaceful and quiet life; and, as to the large fortress, they declared it had been constructed merely for the purpose of self-defence. Finow then took up the discourse, stating that he could not give bis consent to terms which were inconsistent with his dignity, as supreme governor both of Hapai and Vavaoo, and that it was exceedingly hard he should suffer for the rashness and impolicy of others, and that they should cease to put that confidence in his wisdom and justice which he hoped he had always merited. He then repeated the arguments in favour of his innocence, and, in conclusion, urged as a proof of his love and affection for the people of Vavaoo, the readiness with which he formerly joined their late beloved chief, in the assassination of Toogoo Ahoo, by this means freeing Vavaoo and all the Tonga islands of a tyrant. Although afterwards, he added, the Vavaoo people from a mistaken notion, had opposed his progress in the same good cause, from his authority had they not received Toobó Nuha, a good and a wise chief, who, having since fallen a sacrifice to the ambition and malice of others, ought they on that account to forego their reliance on the love and affection which they had hitherto so conspicuously shown them? "But, as you seem disposed," said he, " to live in idleness and luxury, I will go and reside among a more manly people, and prosecute war against the island of Tonga. In reply to all this, they again assured him of

their love and respect for him as an individual, but, as they were determined to live free, they would neither propose nor accept of any other terms. The king then ordered his matabooles to conduct him to his canoe, and, turning towards the Vavaoo people, said, "Live, then, among yourselves in idleness, and we will return to Hapai."

During the time that Finow was addressing the Vavaoo people, the matabooles and warriors that surrounded his canoe (among whom was Mr Mariner) appeared much moved, and several shed tears; for his powers of persuasion were such, that, in defending his own cause, he seemed to be the most worthy, the most innocent, and the most unjustly used. On this account the greater chiefs

and old matabooles of Vavaoo remained in the fortress, fearing to listen to his arguments, lest, being drawn aside by the power of his eloquence, they might mistake that for truth which was not, and even lead the young and ardent warriors into an error.

The fortress, on the top of a steep rising ground, presented a most formidable and warlike appearance. Its extent seemed enormous; and the tops of the white reeds, which were seen at a distance above the banks of red clay, being strongly illuminated by the sun, represented to the imagination of Mr Mariner the spears and javelins of ancient heroes, drawn up in battle array. On the top of the banks a number of warriors, armed with clubs and spears, were running to and fro, with fine light streamers,* full thirteen feet long, attached to their heads and arms, which, floating in the wind, produced a most romantic effect.

These streamers consist of the fine membrane stripped off from the under side of the cocoa-nut leaf.

cava root.

The king and his matabooles being now returned to their canoe, the expedition proceeded out of the inlet, and arrived shortly at a small island, on which they landed, and stripped it of almost all its It is here proper to mention, that all the islands adjacent to Vavaoo were deserted by order of Toe Oomoo, that the people might be more safely situated in or near the fortress, in case of an invasion. The three canoes afterwards proceeded a little farther onward, and put in for the night at a small island, called Hoonga, about two miles from Vavaoo. The next morning they resumed their voyage, and in the afternoon reached Haano, the nearest of the Hapai Islands.

CHAPTER VI.

THE day after the return of the expedition, the gods were invoked in the usual way, and the oracular answer given was, to proceed immediately to war against Vavaoo. All things being in readiness, the following morning the king embarked with the whole of his forces, about 5000 men, besides 1000 women, in fifty large canoes, containing also the four carronades, ammunition, and every thing necessary for a vigorous attack upon the strong fortress of Vavaoo. Towards evening, they arrived at Fonnooi-fooa, one of the small islands in the neighbourhood of Vavaoo, whence Finow despatched four canoes, manned with select warriors, up the inlet, towards the fortress, with orders to kill whomsoever they could. They succeeded in killing three men, and severely wounding a fourth, whom, with the three dead bodies, they brought to Finow. Killing these three men, in the first attempt upon the enemy, was by no means to be considered a trifling advantage; for it was supposed to augur the protection of the gods, and great fu

ture success.

ed

Early in the morning, the Hapai fleet proceedup the inlet to Neafoo, the consecrated spot formerly mentioned, where they landed safely,