rushed out of the house, and fled: Hala Api Api pursued him, taking with him his spear: his feelings now being greatly hurt to see one fly him so cowardly, who of late had matched himself as his equal, he at length became so exasperated that he threw his spear at him; which, however, fortunately got entangled in some bushes. At this moment Talo was considerably in advance, in consequence of the time which it took the other to go back to the door for his spear: he was noted, however, for his swiftness, and conscious that he should overtake him, he continued the pursuit. Before Talo had crossed the field of high grass adjoining his house, he was under the necessity of throwing off his gnatoo, and very shortly after he threw away his club too. Hala Api Api stopped to pick it up, and thus loaded with two clubs he bounded after him with such extraordinary fleetness, that before they had half crossed the next field he overtook him, and catching hold of him by a wreath of flowers that hung round his neck, exclaimed with generous indignation, "Where did you expect to

66

escape to? Are you a bird that you can fly to "the skies; or a spirit that you can vanish to "Bolotoo?-Here is your club, which you so "cowardly threw away; take it, and learn that

"I come not to deprive you of life, but to proffer you again my friendship, which you once

prized so highly:" with that he embraced him, and tearing his own gnatoo, gave him half to wear. By this time Hala Api Api's men coming up, he dispatched them immediately to the garrison, to prevent any disturbances which might arise from a false report of this adventure for a few of Talo's men being near the house, and mistaking Hala Api Api's intention, imagined the fate of their chief inevitable, and had betaken themselves immediately to the garrison, with a view to excite the adherents of Talo to revenge his death; for he was a powerful chief, had belonged to the former garrison, and would undoubtedly have had most of the chiefs of Vavaoo for the avengers of his cause. The two chiefs returned as soon as possible to Felletoa, to shew the people that they had entered again into a friendly alliance. When they arrived they found the whole place in such a state of disturbance, all being up

in

arms, party against party, that in all probability if they had arrived a little later, war would already have broken out. At the sight of them, matters were soon adjusted; and their mutual friendship became stronger than ever.

A short time after this, the people of Hapai

clearly shewed their intention of commencing
hostilities; but were defeated in the very act
by the vigilance and bravery of some of Finow's
young warriors, among whom Mr. Mariner
had the honour to take an active part. One
day most of the large sailing canoes were
launched, for the double purpose of procuring
from some of the outer islands a quantity of
coarse sand, and to convey those whose busi-
ness it was to cut flag-stones for the grave of
Tooitonga, to different places for that end.
Owing, however, to contrary winds, they were
not able to make the shores of Vavaoo that
evening; and, in consequence, Finow, who
was with them, proposed to remain at the
island of Toonga during the night. A short
time after, they received intelligence from a
fisherman that a canoe, apparently from Ha-
pai, was approaching, and, as was supposed,
with an hostile intent, as she had a quantity of
arms on board, and many men.
In conse-
quence of this, the young warriors requested
of Finow leave to proceed in a number of small
canoes (as the wind was unfavourable for large
ones), and endeavour to cut them off. After a
due consultation this was granted; and eleven
canoes, manned with the choicest warriors,
paddled towards the island of Toonga. As

it was a moonlight night, the enemy saw them, and prepared to receive them, concealing themselves behind certain bushes at a small distance from the beach, where they supposed Finow's men would land: they were right in their conjecture, and, as soon as Finow's warriors were landed, the enemy rushed upon them with their usual yell, and occasioned much disorder and alarm, but soon rallying, they pressed on them in return so closely and bravely, that they were obliged to retreat towards the place where their canoe lay; and here a most severe conflict ensued. Unfortunately, in hurrying on shore from the canoes, Mr. Mariner's ammunition got wet, which rendered his musket of little use, hence he was obliged to employ only a bow and arrows. The enemy, finding themselves so well matched, and thinking they might soon be attacked by forces from the main land (Vavaoo), they embarked as speedily as they could; but, in doing which, they lost ten or twelve men. Mr. Mariner again tried to use his musket, and, after repeated trials,. succeeded in shooting the two men that steered (it being a double canoe), after which he returned with his own party to their canoes, leaving nineteen of the enemy dead on the field, besides the two killed in the canoe: their

own loss were four, killed on the spot, and three others, who died afterwards of their wounds. The enemy were about sixty in number; themselves about fifty. In this affair Mr. Mariner unfortunately received a violent blow on the knee by a stone from a sling, which lamed him for a considerable length of time. It appeared from the account of a boy, who was wounded and taken prisoner, that the enemy intended to proceed as secretly as possible to the westward of Vavaoo, and, under cover of the night, to make incursions on shore, and do all the mischief in their power.

space

For the of about two months after this affair, no circumstance worthy of note took place: no other attack from the people of Hapai was attempted, and all seemed peaceable and quiet. At the end of this period, however, there happened a circumstance, the most fortunate of all to Mr. Mariner, viz. that of his escape. In this time of peace, when he had nothing in which to employ himself, but objects of recreation and amusement, sometimes with Finow, or other chiefs, and sometimes by himself, among several amusements, he would frequently go out for two or three days together, among the neighbouring small islands, on a fishing excursion: as he was one evening