accord with the curse of the malevolent invoker. To perform these charms is considered cowardly and unmanly, but does not constitute a crime.

The Tonga people universally and positively believe in the existence of a large island, lying at a considerable distance to the north-westward of their own islands, which they consider to be the place of residence of their gods, and of the souls of their nobles and matabooles. This island is supposed to be much larger than all their own islands put together, to be well stocked with all kinds of useful and ornamental plants, always in a state of high perfection, and always bearing the richest fruits and the most beautiful flowers, according to their respective natures; that when these fruits or flowers are plucked, others immediately occupy their place, and that the whole atmosphere is filled with the most delightful fragance that the imagination can conceive. The island is also well stocked with beautiful birds of all imaginable kinds, as well as with abundance of hogs, all of which are immortal, unless they are killed to provide food for the hotooas or gods; but the moment a hog or bird is killed, another living hog or bird immediately comes into existence to supply its place, the same as with the fruits and flowers; and this, as far as they know or suppose, is the only mode of propagation of plants and animals. The island of Bolotoo is supposed to be so far off as to render it dangerous to attempt going there; and it is supposed moreover, that even if they were to succeed in reaching so far, unless it happened to be the particular will of the gods, they would be sure to miss it. They give, however, an account of

a Tonga canoe, which, on her return from the Fiji islands a long time ago, was driven by stress of weather to Bolotoo. Ignorant of the place where they were, and being much in want of provisions, -seeing the country abound in all sorts of fruit, the crew landed, and proceeded to pluck some bread-fruit, but, to their unspeakable astonishment, they could no more lay hold of it than if it were a shadow; they walked through the trunks of the trees, and passed through the substance of the houses, (which were built like those of Tonga), without feeling any resistance. They at length saw some of the hotooas, who passed through their bodies as if there were nothing there; and recommended them to go away immediately, as they had no proper food for them, promising 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 Navigator's Islands), at which place they wanted to touch before they went to Tonga. Having remained at Hamoa two or three days, they sailed for Tonga, where they arrived with great speed; but in the course of a few days they all died, not as a punishment for having been at Bolotoo, but as a natural consequence-the air of Bolotoo, as it were, infecting mortal bodies with speedy death. The hotooas are supposed to have no canoes, not requiring them for if they wish to be any where, there they are the moment the wish is felt.

The HOTOOAS, or supernatural intelligent beings, may be divided into classes.

1. The original gods.

2. The souls of nobles having all attributes in common with the first, but inferior in degree.

3. The souls of matabooles, that are still inferior, and have not the power, as the two first have, of coming back to Tonga to inspire the priests, though they are supposed to have the power of appearing to their relatives.

4. The original attendants, or servants, as it were, of the gods, who, although they had their origin, and have ever since existed in Bolotoo, are still inferior to the third class.

5. The Hotooa Pow, or mischievous gods.

6. Moooi, or god that supports the earth, and does not belong to Bolotoo.

The first class, or original hotooas, are suppos ed to be rather numerous, perhaps about three hundred; but the names of very few are known, and those only to some of the chiefs and matabooles; for it may easily be supposed that, where no written records are kept, only those whose attributes particularly concern the affairs of this world should be much talked of. As for the rest, they are, for the most part, merely tutelar gods to particular private families; and having nothing in their history at all interesting, are scarcely known to any body else.

Several of these primitive hotooas have houses dedicated to them; the houses are built in the usual style, but, generally, somewhat more care is taken, both in building them, and keeping them in good order, decorating their enclosures with flowers, &c. About twenty of the gods have houses thus consecrated to them, some having five or six, others one or two. The following are the names and attributes of the principal gods.

TA'LI-Y-TOOBO'; (the literal meaning of this

name, from which nothing can be deduced, is Wait there, Toobo!) He is the patron of the How and his family, not of Finow in particular, who is the present king, but of any one who may be king. He is also god of war, and is consequently always invoked in time of war by the How's party. In time of peace he is also occasionally invoked for the general good of the nation. He has four houses dedicated to him in the island of Vavaoo; two at the small island of Lefooga, one at Haano, one at Wiha, and two or three others of smaller importance elsewhere. He has no priest, unless it be the How himself, whom he sometimes inspires; but it has happened that a How, during his whole reign, has not been inspired.

Too'I FOOA BOLO'TOO; the literal meaning of this is, " Chief of all Bolotoo. From this name one would suppose him to be the greatest god in Bolotoo, but he is inferior to the one before mentioned. How he came by this name the natives themselves can give no account; the only answer they make is, that such is his proper name. Although he is the god of Bolotoo he is inferior to Tali y Toobo, insomuch that they scarcely make a comparison between them. If you ask them whether Tooi fooa Bolotoo is a great god, they will answer, "Yes, he is a very great god." "Is Tali y Toobo a greater god?" "Yes, much greater. "How great, then, is Tali y Toobo? "He is a great chief, from the top of the sky down to the bottom of the earth! He is also the god of rank in society, and in this quality he is often invoked by the heads of great families, as

the king, and other great nobles, on occasion of sickness, or other family troubles. He has several houses dedicated to him; three or four at Vavaoo, one at Lefooga, and a few at other islands. He has three or four priests, whom he occasionally inspires; at least Mr Mariner was acquainted with three or four, but perhaps there are others.

HIGOOLE'O (no literal meaning that we can discover, unless igoo leo, to guard the tail); a very high god, regarded principally by Tooitonga's family. He has no priest, nor any house, and is supposed never to come to Tonga. The natives

are uncertain about his attributes.

TOOBO TOTY, literally, Toobo the mariner. He is the patron of Finow's family, also the god of voyages. In the first quality he is often invoked by Finow; in the second by chiefs, going upon any maritime expedition; also by any body in a canoe during a voyage. He is not the god of wind, but is supposed to have great influence with that deity. His chief power is extended to the preservation of canoes from accidents. This god has several houses dedicated to him, chiefly at Vavaoo and the contiguous isles. Mr Mariner only knew one priest belonging to him, but he, perhaps, has several. It will be recollected, in the former part of the history, at the time when Finow's daughter was ill, this priest, when inspired, foretold that either she or Finow must die, as decreed in Bolotoo. In consequence, Finow, after his daughter's death, was so exasperated with his god, Toobo Toty', for not making arrangements among the gods more favourable to him, that he vowed to kill his priest; which sacrilegious intention was prevented by his own death.