fifty or sixty killed on the occasion; and on these several of the chiefs made a hearty repast. The animal is killed by blows on the head, and cooked in the same manner as a hog. Finow was particularly fond of dog's flesh, but he ordered it to be called pork; because women and many men had a degree of abhorence at this sort of diet. The parts of the dog in most esteem are the neck and hinder quarters. Mr Mariner has frequently partaken of it, and found it very good; the fat is considered excellent. At the Sandwich Islands the practice was almost universal in Mr Mariner's time, so that more dog's flesh was eaten than pork, the hogs being preserved to be used as a trading commodity with European and American vessels. At these last mentioned islands most of the male dogs are operated upon, and afterwards fattened for the express purpose; and Mr Mariner thinks their flesh is nearly as good and tender as that of a sucking pig.

Finow having ordered all things to be got ready, went out early in the morning after his arrival, to try the excellence of his bird; and had very great sport. The day following he went out again; but the bird, from some cause or another, would not make any noise; which made him so angry that he knocked it on the ground, and beat it with an arrow, and, after having almost killed it, gave it away to one of his chiefs, declaring how vexatious it was to have a bird that would not speak after having had so much trouble with it. He afterwards used the two birds that were first sent to him, and was tolerably well satisfied with them.

rats.

CHAPTER IX.

FINOW, having at this time no business of importance on which to employ his attention, resolved to go to the island of Hoonga, lying at a small distance to the southward of Vavaoo, in order to inspect the plantations there, and to recreate himself a little with the sport of shooting birds and Mr Mariner, as usual, formed one of the party. On this island there is a peculiar cavern, situated on the western coast, the entrance to which is some feet beneath the surface of the sea even at low water; and was first discovered by a young chief, whilst diving after a turtle. The nature of this cavern will be better understood if we imagine a hollow rock rising sixty feet or more above the surface of the water; into the cavity of which there is no known entrance but one, and that is on the side of the rock, several feet under the water, which flows into it; and, consequently, the base of the cavern may be said to be the sea itself. * Finow and his friends, being on this part

The depth of the entrance below the surface differs, of course, with the different heights of the tide. When Mr Mariner entered, it was about six feet below the 'surface. Jeremiah Higgins says it was two or three feet

of the island, proposed one afternoon, on a sudden thought, to go into this cavern, and drink cava. Mr Mariner was not with them at the time the proposal was made; but happening to come down a little while after to the shore, and seeing some of the young chiefs diving into the water, one after another, and not rise again, he was a little surprised, and inquired of the last, who was just preparing to take the same step, what they were about? "Follow me, said he, “and I will take you where you have never been before; and where Finow, and his chiefs and matabooles, are now assembled." Mr Mariner, supposing it to be the famous cavern of which he had heard some account, without any further hesitation, prepared* himself to follow his companion, who dived into the water, and he after him, and, guided by the light reflected from his heels, entered the opening in the rock, and having dived through the passage, which is about eight or nine feet in length, rose into the cavern. He was no sooner above the surface of the water than, sure enough, he heard the voices of the king and his friends. Being di rected by his guide, he climbed upon a jutting portion of rock, and sat down. All the light that came into this place was reflected from the bot

when he went in, at nearly low water, at which period it is very difficult to enter, on account of the swell.

*It is proper to mention that, in presence of a superior chief, it is considered very disrespectful to be undrest. Under such circumstances as the present, therefore, every one retires a little, and, as soon as he has divested himself of his usual dress, slips on an apron made of the leaves of the chi tree, or of matting called gie. The same respect is shown, if it be necessary to undress near a chief's grave; because some hotooa or god may be present.

tom, and was sufficient, after remaining about five minutes, to show objects with some little distinctness; at least he could discover, being directed by the voice, Finow, and the rest of the company, seated like himself. Nevertheless, as it was desirable to have a stronger illumination, Mr Mariner dived out again, and, procuring his pistol, primed it well, tied plenty of gnatoo tight round it, and wrapped the whole up in a plantain leaf. He directed an attendant to bring a torch in the same way. Thus prepared, he re-entered the cavern as speedily as possible, unwrapped the gnatoo, a great portion of which was perfectly dry, fired it by the flash of the powder, and lighted the toreh. The place was now illuminated tolerably well, for the first time, perhaps, since its existence. It appeared (by guess) to be about 40 feet wide in the main part, but which branched off, on one side, in two narrower portions. The medium height seemed also about 40 feet. * The roof was hung with stalactites in a very curious way, resembling, upon a cursory view, the Gothic arches and ornaments of an old church. After having examined the place, they drank cava, and passed away the time in conversation upon different subjects. Among other things, an old mataboole, after having mentioned how the cavern was discovered, viz. by a young chief in the act of diving after a turtle, related an interesting account of the use which this chief made of

* Jeremiah Higgins thinks it was not near so high. He had the light of the sun setting opposite to the entrance, and refracted through the water. Mr Mariner had asu perior light from his torch.

his accidental discovery. The circumstances are as follow.

In former times there lived a tooi (governor) of Vavaoo, who exercised a very tyrannical deportment towards his people. At length, when it was no longer to be born, a certain chief meditated a plan of insurrection, and was resolved to free his countrymen from such odious slavery, or to be sacrificed himself in the attempt. Being however treacherously deceived by one of his own party, the tyrant became acquainted with his plan, and imme diately had him arrested. He was condemned to be taken out to sea and drowned, and all his family and relations were ordered to be massacred, that none of his race might remain. One of his daughters, a beautiful girl, young and interesting, had been reserved to be the wife of a chief of considerable rank, and she also would have sunk, the victim of the merciless destroyer, had it not been for the generous exertions of another young chief, who, a short time before, had discovered the cavern of Hoonga. This discovery he had kept within his breast a profound secret, reserving it as a place of retreat for himself, in case he should be unsuccess→ ful in a plan of revolt which he also had in view. He had long been enamoured of this beautiful young maiden, but had never dared to make her acquainted with the soft emotions of his heart, knowing that she was betrothed to a chief of higher rank and greater power. But now the dreadful

moment arrived when she was about to be cruelly sacrificed to the rancour of a man, to whom he was a most deadly enemy. No time was to be lost; he flew to her abode; communicated in a