An Account of the Natives of the Tonga Islands in the South Pacific Ocean: With an Original Grammar and Vocabulary of Their Language

Forsideomslag
Constable, 1827 - 340 sider
 

Andre udgaver - Se alle

Almindelige termer og sætninger

Populære passager

Side 136 - it must not be supposed that these women are always easily won; the greatest attentions and the most fervent solicitations are sometimes requisite, even though there be no other lover in the way...
Side 121 - There is implanted in the human breast a knowledge or sentiment, which enables us sometimes, if not always, to distinguish between the beauty of disinterestedness and the foul ugliness of what is low, sordid, and selfish : and the effect of this sentiment is one of the strongest marks of character in the natives of these islands.
Side 149 - ... extended upon that arm, one end being still grasped by the left hand. The right hand, being now at liberty, is brought under the left fore-arm (which still remains in the same situation), and carried outwardly towards the left elbow, that it may again seize, in that situation, the end of the vau.
Side 113 - ... is broken, immortality is equally its reward ; nay, artificial bodies have equal good luck with men, and hogs, and yams. If an axe or a chisel is worn out or broken up, away flies its soul for the service of the gods. If a house is taken down, or...
Side 131 - I think that about two thirds of the women are married, and of this number full half remain with their husbands till death separates them; that is to say, full one third of the female population remain married till either themselves or their husbands die. The remaining two thirds are married and are soon divorced, and are married again perhaps three, four, or five times in their lives...
Side 119 - If there was any difference between them and the rest of the natives, it was that they were rather more given to reflection, and somewhat more taciturn, and probably greater observers of what was going forward.
Side 95 - ... houses (which were built like those of Tonga), without feeling any resistance. They at length saw some of the Hotooas, who passed through the substance of their bodies as if there was nothing there. The Hotooas recommended them to go away immediately, as they had no proper food for them, and promised them a fair wind and a speedy passage. They accordingly put directly to sea, and in two days, sailing with the utmost velocity, they arrived at Hamoa, (the Navigators' Island,) at which place they...
Side 156 - ... of the yam season. The object of this offering is to insure the protection of the gods, that their favour may be extended to the welfare of the nation generally, and in particular to the productions of the earth, of which yams are the most important.
Side 168 - Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard. 28 Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you : I am the LORD.
Side 166 - I witnessed more than one little child quarrelling for the honour (or rather out of bravado), of having it done. The finger is laid flat upon a block of wood. A knife, axe, or sharp stone is placed with the edge upon the line of proposed separation; and a powerful blow being given with a mallet or large stone, the operation is finished.

Bibliografiske oplysninger