Net making-Fishing-House-building-Striking the tattow-Carving the handles of clubs-Shaving with shells-Cooking food-Enumeration of the principal made dishes-Making ropes; bows and arrows; clubs and spears-Manufacture of gnatoo, General habits of chiefs, matabooles, mooas, women and children-An account of their different dances and songs-Specimen of their songs in rhyme- Specimens of their music-An account of their va- rious sports and games-The pastimes of a day, ACCOUNT OF THE TONGA ISLANDS. CHAPTER I. SOON after the burial of the late king, Finow Fiji proposed to his nephew to rebuild the large garrison at Felletoa, which might serve as a strong and impenetrable fortification, in case of attack from a foreign enemy; besides which, he justly observed, being rebuilt, it would serve as a place of residence for all the chiefs and great warriors. This measure was in itself highly political, as it would prevent the seditious from forming cabals and parties, which they could more easily do whilst living at a distance up the country, than under the eyes of the king. It was not proposed, however, that they should reside constantly at the garrison, and, by that means, neglect their plantations, but that each should have a house with the usual conveniences for his wife and family, built within the fencing, to reside in at night, him to do so. or to retire to wholly, in case of invasion, civil commotion, or whenever the king should order This proposal of Finow Fiji being assented to by the king, the former requested permission to have the sole management of laying out the plan, and to see it carried into effect, which the latter readily agreed to. During the time the garrison was rebuilding, a circumstance happened which seemed to indicate that a conspiracy was on the eve of being formed, if not actually begun; and, as the circumstance alluded to is connected with a certain superstitious ceremony worthy of detail, we shall be particular in giving the account of it exactly as it happened. Foonagi, the wife of Finow Fiji, and formerly the wife of Tymomangnoongoo (a great warrior, who was a party concerned in taking the Port au Prince), was a woman of uncommon penetration and discernment, and, on that account, as well as from the circumstance of her being the daughter of a chief who was a friend of his father, she was highly regarded by the late king; who indeed had attached himself to her so much, it is supposed she lived with him as his mistress during the time she was actually the wife of her first husband. She was extremely religious, and universally respected, on account of her accurate knowledge of religious ceremonies, on which subject she was frequently consulted by the chiefs; and, upon political matters, Finow himself often applied to her; for in this also she stood eminent in the esteem of every one. To Finow she seemed as much attached as he to her; and, after his death, she mourned his loss with a sorrow beyond the reach of comfort. She, above all others, was most attentive in decorating with flowers planted by her own hand, and with the utmost solicitude keeping in order, the fytoca where lay the body of her deceased friend. For the space of six months this faithful mourner scarcely ever slept but on his grave, watering it with her tears, and disturbing the silence of the night with her sighs. One day she went to the house of Mo-oonga Toobó, widow of the deceased chief, to communicate what had happened to her at the fytoca during several nights, and which caused her the greatest anxiety. She related having dreamed that the late How appeared to her, and, with a countenance full of disappointment, asked why there yet remained at Vavaoo so many evil designing persons; for that, since he had been at Bolotoo, his spirit had been disturbed by the evil machinations of wicked men conspiring against his son; but he declared that "the youth" should not be molested, nor his power shaken by the spirit of rebellion; that therefore he came to her with a warning voice, to prevent such disastrous consequences. The apparition next desired her to place in order the pebble-stones upon his grave,* and pay every attention to the fytoca; then disappeared. Mo-oonga Toobó, upon hearing this account, thought it expedient to search the fytoca, to see if the charm of tattao+ had not been practised in regard to * It must here be recollected, that mourners were accustomed to smooth the graves of their departed friends, and cover them with black and white pebbles. The charm of tattao consists in hiding upon the grave, or in any part of the fytoca, some portion of the wearing apparel of an inferior relation of the deceased, in consequence of which that relation will sicken and die; it may be buried in the house consecrated to the tutelar god of the family. This charm is not supposed to have or, |