cava for ling out to the deceased to witness this proof of his love and fidelity, and declaring aloud that his sentiments towards his son were the same as those he formerly entertained towards him, notwithstanding that death had occasioned this seeming breach between them :-protesting how much he wished a perfect and friendly understanding with the Vavaoo people, that he might occasionally have the opportunity of preparing the young Finow; and by such and other assiduities prove his respect and loyalty towards his family. But since as he supposed the chiefs of Bo lotoo had decreed otherwise, he should be contented to live at the Hapai Islands, and evince his remembrance of the deceased, by sending, in Tonga-mana's canoe, the produce of his own islands as presents to his son. This speech was followed by those of several of his party, all much in the same sentiment, and then, after bruising their heads, running spears and arrows through their cheeks, thighs, and breasts, they left the grave to attend to the cava of Finow. In the evening, Finow, Toobó Toa, and Finow Fiji had a short conversation together, when Toobó Toa expressed his wish to be tributary to Vavaoo, notwithstanding it might still be thought politic, as long as any of Toobo Nuha's near relations were living, to keep him and his people at a distance, acknowledging that such a separation was the only way of preserving peace between the two powers. He stated, moreover, that with the view of keeping his own people from meditating either conspiracies a gainst himself or wars against Vavaoo (which they would be sure to do if they remained long idle), he should turn his attention to the assistance of the garrison of Hihifo at Tonga, which was upon friendly terms with him, but which he had lately heard was very weak, and in great danger of being destroyed by the enemy. To succour his friends, therefore, he meant to proceed to Tonga with a strong army as soon as possible. To Toobo Toa's proposal of still sending a tribute, Finow objected for two reasons; first, because Vavaoo itself yielded quite enough for the maintenance of his people; and, secondly, because any tribute received from Toobo Toa might be construed by the people into an act of friendship and alliance, which ill suited with the sentiments they entertained towards the man who had formerly killed their beloved chief Toobo Nuha. As to the annual tribute for the inachi it could not be dispensed with, because it was a religious act, and was necessary to be performed to ensure the favour of the gods, and prevent any calamities which might otherwise be inflicted on them. Toobo Toa accordingly was obliged to accede to all that Finow had so reasonably said upon the subject; but his pride, it was believed, was much hurt at feeling the necessity of coinciding in the wishes of so young and inexpe rienced a chief. While yet speaking, the tears ran down his cheeks, influenced probably by the feelings of his heart towards the late How, and sincere regret for his loss. The same evening he took his leave of Finow, by performing the ceremony of moemoe, * and repaired with his men to the canoes, in * A kind of salute paid to the greatest chief present, and consists in bowing the head (whilst sitting cross-legged before him), so that the forehead touches the sole of the chief's foot, who sits in like manner, and then touching the sole of the same foot (which may be either the right or the left), first with the palm and then with the back of each hand. The ceremony is also performed by which the following morning he departed for Нараі. Toobo Toa was greatly pleased with the appearance of the new garrison, declaring that he had never seen any thing so warlike and formidable, not even at the Fiji Islands, where he had lived several years. Finow had indeed given the strictest orders to make every thing appear as imposing as possible, producing a tasteful display of clubs, spears, and arrows, arranged against the houses, with wreaths of flowers and certain warlike decorations. Upon the whole, when the size and strength of the place, with its situation, was taken into consideration, it was perhaps by far the most formidable fortification that had ever been established in any of those clusters of islands in the midst of the Southern Ocean. About a month after the departure of Toobó Toa, during which time nothing particular occurred, a fisherman from one of the neighbouring islands brought word that a small canoe had been seen persons who may have accidentally touched any part of a superior chief's person, or any thing whatever belonging to him; and, unless this ceremony is performed after such contact, they cannot eat, as they suppose, without danger of swelling up and dying. They are very subject to indurations of the liver, and certain forms of scrofula, hereafter to be spoken of, and which, as they conceive, frequently happen from a neglect of this ceremony, after touching any thing belonging to a superior chief. They most frequently, however, perform it; without knowing themselves to have occasion for it, merely as a matter of caution. And if a man has eaten any thing without performing this ceremony when he had occasion for it, the chief applies the sole of his foot also to the man's belly, as a greater security against such swellings. Moe-moe means literally to touch or press. (See note, vol. I. p. 133.) coming in a direction from Hapai. In a short time it arrived, bringing one of Finow's principal warriors, Lolo Hea Cow Keifoo, and his two brothers, young lads, who had been at the Hapai Islands in consequence of the illness of their father, who resided there, but was since dead. They brought intelligence that Toobó Toa had ordered all the canoes to be put in a state for sea; and his fighting men to hold themselves in readiness to depart at a moment's notice. In consequence of this order, Lolo Hea suspected, and indeed it was universally believed, that it was Toobó Toa's intention to make a descent upon the island of Vavaoo. Hence he took the first opportunity to make his escape with his two brothers; for, had he waited on the invading army, he could not in honour have deserted it, and would thus have been obliged to fight against his own countrymen. Finow, on hearing this intelligence, was not backward in making the most judicious preparations to receive his enemy, although he believed that his intention was to land his men at Tonga, with a view to assist the garrison before spoken of; but still he held himself well prepared, according to the Tonga maxim, never to suspect any thing without immediately making preparations for the worst. Mr Mariner now got ready a carronade, which having been spiked had hitherto not been used. Having nothing wherewith to drill the touch-hole, he collected together a vast quantity of wood, and made a large fire, in the midst placing the gun, of which, when hot, he readily cleared the touch-hole. It was then mounted upon a carriage. Thus Finow had three guns, six barrels of powder, and plenty of shot, for almost all the shot which had been fired in he former attacks upon the garrison were again found and collected; besides which he also sent a canoe to the islands of Togoo, N. W. of Vavaoo, to collect a cargo of round black pebbles, which are found there in abundance. With all this ammunition, Finow was far superior to Toobó Toa, who had only two guns, and was withal very short both of powder and shot. All these preparations, however, were never required, for, shortly after, Tonga-mana's conoe ar rived, bringing intelligence that Toobó Toa had proceeded with his army to the assistance of the garrison before spoken of in the island of Tonga. About this time there happened a very heavy storm of thunder and lightning, which is always considered ominous by the natives, and esteemed the harbinger of some great event, such as invasion, death of a great chief, arrival of an European ship, &c. This event therefore produced, as it generally does, considerable anxiety in the minds of the people, which was much increased by the dreams of several women. One dreamed that during the time of the inachi, Tooitonga, at the head of a number of hotooas, attacked them, and broke to pieces the consecrated yams; another, that she had been at Bolotoo, and heard a decree of Higooleo (one of the principal hotooas), that Vavaoo should shortly experience some great calamity, because the people had neglected some particular and important ceremonies. In this state of the public mind, parties were sent to the outer islands to keep a perpetual watch, and to bring immediate intelligence of any canoe that might appear. In the course of a little time, it was re |