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 plac

ing 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

marked that Tooitonga decreased considerably in size, losing flesh every day, although otherwise in good health. It was not long, however, before he began to complain of weakness and loss of appetite. His illness beginning thus to be confirmed, occasioned his relations and attendants to have recourse to the usual ceremonies on such melancholy occasions. Accordingly, every day one or other of his young relations had a little finger cut off, as a propitiatory offering to the gods for the sins of the sick man. * These sacrifices, however, were found of no avail; and greater were soon had recourse to. Accordingly, three or four children were strangled, at different times, in the manner which has already been related; and invocations were made to the deities at fytocas, consecrated houses, and in the persons of the priests, but still without effect, for the gods were deaf to their entreaties; and the illness of the sacred chief grew every day more alarming. As a last resource, to excite the compassion of the deities, they carried the emaciated person of Tooitonga to the place where his

Nothing is more common in these islands than the sacrifice of a little finger on occasion of the illness of a superior relation; insomuch, that there is scarcely a grown-up person (unless a very great chief, who can have but few superior relations) but who has lost the little finger of both hands. Nor is there ever any dispute between two persons, with a view to get exempt from this ceremony: On the contrary, Mr Mariner has witnessed a violent contest between two children of five years of age, each claiming the favour of having the ceremony performed on him, so little do they fear the pain of the operation. The pain, indeed, is but very trifling, from the mode, probably, in which it is performed, which will be fully described in another place.

provisions were cooked-in the same manner as Finow was carried:-but notwithstanding all this, death overtook him, after six weeks illness.

About a month or six weeks after the funeral ceremonies were finished, (which will be described under the head of Religious Ceremonies, in the sequel), Finow, who had not broken his head (as they call it) at the grave of his father, because, perhaps, on a public occasion, it would have looked in him like an ostentatious display of what might have been thought affected feeling, resolved to perform this ceremony in a more private manner, accompanied only by a few of his warriors, to whom he now signified his intention. Accordingly, one morning, he and his men began to prepare themselves for this affair, when unfortunately an accident happened, which to us Europeans, in the present times, would not have attracted the slightest attention; but which, in the estimation of these people, was a matter pregnant with the most important and serious consequenMr Mariner, on entering the house, happened to sneeze!! Immediately every one present threw down his club, for who would proceed on so important an expedition after so dire an omen! * Finow's eyes flashed with the fire of rage;-directing them full on Mr Mariner, he cursed him with the most bitter curse, "strike your god!" and, rising from the ground, demanded why he came there? To this Mr Mariner answered, "Your father would not have asked me the ques❤

ces.

*

To sneeze at the moment of setting out on an expedition argues, in their opinion, the most fatal results. Even Finow, who had a superior mind, could not efface from it the depth of the impression.