from each other; to which the reedwork is firmly lashed by tough sinnet, made of the husk of the cocoa-nut. This fencing is about nine feet in height, the post rising about a foot higher. It has four large entrances, as well as several small ones, secured on the inside by horizontal sliding pieces, made of the wood of the cocoa-nut tree. Over each door, as well as at other places, are erected platforms even with the top of the fencing, supported chiefly on the inside, but projecting forward to the extent of two or three feet. These platforms are about nine feet square, and situated fifteen yards distant from each other; and as they are intended for the men to stand on, to shoot arrows, or throw down large stones, they are also defended in front, and half way on each side, by a reed-work six feet high, with an opening in front, and others on either hand, for the greater convenience of throwing spears, &c. The lower fencing has also openings for a similar purpose. On the outside is a ditch of nearly twelve feet deep, and as much broad; which, at a little disstance, is encompassed by another fencing similar to the first, with platforms, &c. on the outside of which there is a second ditch. The earth dug out of these ditches forms a bank on each side, serving to deepen them. Opposite each large doorway, there is no ditch dug. The inner and outer fencings are ornamented profusely with white shells. Some of these fortifications are square, others round, like that of Nioocalofa.

CHAPTER IV.

FINOW being arrived with the whole of his fleet off Nioocalofa, and having with him, besides Mr Mariner, fifteen other Englishmen, eight of whom 'were armed with muskets, he proceeded to land his troops under cover of a fire of musketry, which speedily drove almost all the enemy who had sallied forth back into the garrison. The first fire killed three, and wounded several; and a repetition of it threw them into such dismay, that in five minutes only forty of the bravest remained to molest them; and these began to retire, as the forces of Finow increased on the beach. In the mean while, the carronades were dismounted from their carriages, slung on poles, and conveyed over a shallow reef to the shore. The whole army being landed, and the guns again mounted, the latter were drawn up before the garrison, and a regular fire was commenced. Finow took his station on the reef, seated in an English chair, (from the Port au Prince), for his chiefs would not allow him to expose his person on shore. The fire of

the carronades was kept up for about an hour; in the mean while, as it did not appear to do all the mischief to the exterior of the fortress, owing to the yielding nature of its materials, that the king

expected, he sent for Mr Mariner, and expressed his disappointment. The latter replied, that no doubt there was mischief enough done on the inside of the fort, wherever there were resisting bodies, such as canoes, the posts and beams of houses, &c.; and that it was evident the besieged had no reason to think lightly of the effect of the artillery, seeing that they had already greatly slackened their exertions, not half the number of arrows being now discharged from the fort; arising, in all probability, from the number of the slain, or of those who had fled up into the country. It was now resolved to set fire to the place; for which purpose a number of torches were prepared and lighted, and an attack made upon the outer fencing. It was found, however, but weakly defended, and was soon taken; for the door-posts being shot away, an easy entrance was obtained. A considerable portion of the inner fencing was now found undefended, and towards this place a party rushed with lighted torches, whilst the enemy were kept in play elsewhere. The conflagra tion spread rapidly on every side; and, as the besieged endeavoured to make their escape, their brains were knocked out by a party of the besiegers, stationed at the back of the fort for the purpose. During this time, the guns kept up a regular fire with blank cartridges, merely to intimidate the enemy. The conquerors, club in hand, entered the place in several quarters, and slew all they met-men, women, and children. The scene was truly horrible. The war-hoop shouted by the combatants, the heart-rending screams of the women and children, the groans of the wounded, the number of the dead, and the fierceness of the con

flagration, formed a picture almost too distracting and awful for the mind to contemplate. Some, with a kind of sullen and stupid resignation, offered no resistance, but waited for the hand of fate to despatch them, no matter in what mode; others, already lying on the ground wounded, were stuck with spears, and beaten about with clubs by boys, who followed the expedition to be trained to the horrors of war, and who delighted in the opportunity of gratifying their ferocious and cruel disposition. Every house that was not on fire was plundered of its contents, and the conquerors made a considerable booty. *

In a few hours, the fortress of Nioocalofa, which had obstinately and bravely defended every attack for eleven years or more, was thus completely destroyed. When Finow arrived upon the place, and saw several canoes, which had been hauled up in the garrison, shattered to pieces by the shot, and discovered a number of legs and arms lying around, and about three hundred and fifty dead bodies, he expressed his wonder and astonishment at the dreadful effect of the guns. He then thanked his men for their bravery, and Mr Mariner and his companions in particular, for the great assistance rendered by them.

A few of the enemy, who had escaped the ge

In this affair, one of Finow's men, a native of Fiji, had made himself a sort of breastplate of an earthenware fish-strainer, such as is laid in the bottom of dishes when fish is brought to table, which he had procured from the Port au Prince. But unluckily it happened, that an arrow pierced him directly through the hole which is com monly in the middle of such strainers. The wound laid him up eight months, and he never afterwards, in Mr Mariner's time, was able to hold himself perfectly erect.

neral slaughter, were taken prisoners, and gave a curious description of the effect of the guns. They declared, that, when a ball entered a house, it did not proceed straight forward, but went all round the place, as if seeking for men to kill; it then passed out of the house and entered another, still in search of food for its vengeance, and so on to a third, &c.; sometimes it would strike the corner post of a house, and bring it all down together. The chiefs, seeing this dreadful mischief going forward, rendered still more tremendous by their own imaginations, sat in consultation, upon one of the large canoes just mentioned, and came to a determination to rush out upon the white men, and take possession of the guns. This was scarcely resolved upon, when a shot struck the canoe on which they were sitting, and shattered it to pieces, which so damped their courage, that they ran for security to one of the inner houses of the garrison, where their distress was much increased, by finding their men deserting the place, and running up into the country.

The king, having finished this affair, began to think of returning to Pangaimotoo. Mr Mariner, indeed, endeavoured to persuade him to follow up the advantages of his victory, by immediately laying siege to another fortress, which, no doubt, would soon have fallen into their hands; and the whole island being struck with dismay, would readily have submitted to his government. But, it seems, Finow was not yet the complete warrior. Pangaimotoo is not more than three quarters of a mile distant from the island of Tonga, separated from it only by a long narrow reef. As soon as