which, at any other time, he can exchange again for the same or any other goods that he may want ; whereas the goods themselves may perhaps spoil by keeping, (particularly if provisions), but the money he supposed would not spoil; and although it was of no true value itself, yet being scarce and difficult to be got without giving something useful and really valuable for it, it was imagined to be of value; and if every body considered it so, and would readily give their goods for it, he did not see but what it was of a sort of real value to all who possessed it, as long as their neighbours chose to take it in the same way. Mr Mariner found he could not give a better explanation, he therefore told Filimóëátoo that his notion of the nature

of money was a just one. After a pause of some length, Finow replied that the explanation did not satisfy him; he still thought it a foolish thing that people should place a value on money, when they either could not or would not apply it to any useful (physical) purpose. "If, said he, "it were made of iron, and could be converted into knives, axes, and chisels, there would be some sense in placing a value on it; but as it is, I see none. If a man, he added, "has more yams than he wants, let him exchange some of them away for pork or gnatoo. Certainly money is much handier, and more convenient, but then, as it will not spoil by being kept, people will store it up, instead of sharing it out, as a chief ought to do, and thus become selfish; whereas, if provisions were the principal property of a man, and it ought to be, as being both the most useful and the most necessary, he could not store it up, for it would spoil, and so he would be obliged either to ex

change it away for something else useful, or share it out to his neighbours, and inferior chiefs and dependents, for nothing." He concluded by saying, "I understand now very well what it is that makes the Papalangis so selfish-it is this money!"

When Mr Mariner informed Finow that dollars were money, he was greatly surprised, having always taken them for páänga, † and things of little value; and he was exceedingly sorry he had not secured all the dollars out of the Port au Prince, before he had ordered her to be burnt. "I had always thought," said he, "that your ship belonged to some poor fellow, perhaps to King George's cook; for Captain Cook's ship, which belonged to the King, had plenty of beads, axes, and looking-glasses on board, whilst yours had nothing but iron hoops, oil, skins, and twelve thousand paänga as I thought: but if every one of these was money, your ship must have belonged to a very great chief indeed.

or

Finow and his chiefs having now remained at the Hapai Islands nearly six weeks, resolved to return to Vavaoo, and the following day set sail, the prince and Mr Mariner accompanying them. As soon as they arrived at Vavaoo, the king gave ders that all the dogs in the island, except a few that belonged to chiefs, should be killed, because they destroyed the game, particularly the kalai; after which he promised himself great sport with his favourite bird. As the breed of dogs was scarce at these islands, there were not more than

+ Paanga is the name they give to a certain kind of bean which is used in one of their games (see Laffo among the games at the end of the second volume). They supposed dollars to be used among us for a similar purpose.

fifty or sixty killed on the occasion; and on these several of the chiefs made a hearty repast. The animal is killed by blows on the head, and cooked in the same manner as a hog. Finow was particularly fond of dog's flesh, but he ordered it to be called pork; because women and many men had a degree of abhorence at this sort of diet. The parts of the dog in most esteem are the neck and hinder quarters. Mr Mariner has frequently partaken of it, and found it very good; the fat is considered excellent. At the Sandwich Islands, the practice was almost universal in Mr Mariner's time, so that more dog's flesh was eaten than pork, the hogs being preserved to be used as a trading commodity with European and American vessels. At these last mentioned islands most of the male dogs are operated upon, and afterwards fattened for the express purpose; and Mr Mariner thinks their flesh is nearly as good and tender as that of a sucking pig.

any

Finow having ordered all things to be got ready, went out early in the morning after his arrival, to try the excellence of his bird; and had very great sport. The day following he went out again; but the bird, from some cause or another, would not make noise; which made him so angry that he knocked it on the ground, and beat it with an arrow, and, after having almost killed it, gave it away to one of his chiefs, declaring how vexatious it was to have a bird that would not speak after having had so much trouble with it. He afterwards used the two birds that were first sent to him, and was tolerably well satisfied with them.

rats.

CHAPTER IX.

FINOW, having at this time no business of importance on which to employ his attention, resolved to go to the island of Hoonga, lying at a small distance to the southward of Vavaoo, in order to inspect the plantations there, and to recreate himself a little with the sport of shooting birds and Mr Mariner, as usual, formed one of the party. On this island there is a peculiar cavern, situated on the western coast, the entrance to which is some feet beneath the surface of the sea even at low water; and was first discovered by a young chief, whilst diving after a turtle. The nature of this cavern will be better understood if we imagine a hollow rock rising sixty feet or more above the surface of the water; into the cavity of which there is no known entrance but one, and that is on the side of the rock, several feet under the water, which flows into it; and, consequently, the base of the cavern may be said to be the sea itself. * Finow and his friends, being on this part

*The depth of the entrance below the surface differs, of course, with the different heights of the tide. When Mr Mariner entered, it was about six feet below the surface. Jeremiah Higgins says it was two or three feet

of the island, proposed one afternoon, on a sudden thought, to go into this cavern, and drink cava. Mr Mariner was not with them at the time the proposal was made; but happening to come down a little while after to the shore, and seeing some of the young chiefs diving into the water, one after another, and not rise again, he was a little surprised, and inquired of the last, who was just preparing to take the same step, what they were about? "Follow me, said he," and I will take you where you I have never been before; and where Finow, and his chiefs and matabooles, are now assembled. Mr Mariner, supposing it to be the famous cavern of which he had heard some account, without any further hesitation, prepared* himself to follow his companion, who dived into the water, and he after him, and, guided by the light reflected from his heels, entered the opening in the rock, and having dived through the passage, which is about eight or nine feet in length, rose into the cavern. He was no sooner above the surface of the water than, sure enough, he heard the voices of the king and his friends. Being directed by his guide, he climbed upon a jutting portion of rock, and sat down. All the light that came into this place was reflected from the bot

when he went in, at nearly low water, at which period it is very difficult to enter, on account of the swell.

3

* It is proper to mention that, in presence of a superior chief, it is considered very disrespectful to be undrest. Under such circumstances as the present, therefore, every one retires a little, and, as soon as he has divested himself of his usual dress, slips on an apron made of the leaves of the chi tree, or of matting called gie. The same respect is shown, if it be necessary to undress near a chief's grave; because some hotooa or god may be present.