tion; and I am surprised that you are so much unlike him, as to believe in such superstitious nonsense. This was too much for the king to bear, particularly before so many of his men; and snatching up a club that lay near him, he would have instantly despatched Mr Mariner, if some of the men present had not pushed him out of the house, while the rest held Finow. Upon this Mr Mariner wished him good bye *—said, that if he wanted him he might send for him, adding, that he did not before know that his presence was so disagreeable. Several men then came out of the house, and hurried Mr Mariner away, lest Finow, before his passion had time to cool, should pursue him, and effect some desperate revenge. He retired, therefore, to a house near the grave. Shortly after, Finow having consulted with his men upon the subject of Mr Mariner's sneezing, resolved that, as he was a foreigner, and had different gods, his sneezing was not to be considered of any consequence. They then proceeded to the grave to perform the ceremony, when Finow and all his men, inspired with enthusiasm, cut and bruised their heads in a shocking manner. Finow, in particular, not contented with the usual instruments, made use of a saw, the teeth of which he struck against his skull with such vehemence and good-will, that he staggered as he went home with loss of blood. These scenes need not be further described; we have already had enough of them.

Mr Mariner, immediately after this, proceeded

The expression answering to this in the Tonga language is bea ger nefo, (and you remain); and is a phrase always used in taking leave of any one.

his company.

to his plantation, resolving to remain there, and see how long Finow would be contented without This conduct, according to the manners and customs of Europeans, appears extremely haughty, arrogant, and presumptuous; for although Finow, in this instance, was undoubtedly much to blame in putting himself in such violent rage, Mr Mariner, being so much the inferior, we might suppose it to be his duty first to ask pardon for the offence so unintentionally committed. But this plan would be far from producing a good effect in the Tonga Islands; on the contrary, he would have been thought a mean-spirited fellow, ever willing to sink himself below the dignity of a man, to purchase the pardon and friendship of a superior. And had he acted in this way, the king would most undoubtedly have thought meanly of him, and never again have made him a confidential friend, which always implies something of an equality.

In the evening, (a few hours after his arrival at his plantation), a girl came with a message from his adopted mother, assuring him that he was perfectly safe, Finow having expressed his extreme sorrow for his own conduct. She advised him, however, not to return to the king till after several invitations, nor even till he came in person to request a renewal of his friendship; for although it was dangerous in Tonga to be too haughty,-on the other hand, upon the principle above alluded to, too much submission would be as bad. Besides, as she was shortly going to live at the Hapai Islands along with her father, she wished beforehand to see Mr Mariner safe against all future

designs and insults from inferior chiefs, by thus counselling him to act with becoming dignity towards even the king himself, whose friendship and sentiments towards Mr Mariner she well knew. He therefore took her advice, and remained at the plantation ten days, notwithstanding repeated messages from Finow, and entreaties to return; and at last he so intimidated the messengers, by threatening to shoot them if they appeared again with that errand, that Finow resolved to fetch him himself. Accordingly one morning he entered his house, and having awakened him, saluted him in the kindest and most affectionate manner, begged pardon for his too hasty conduct, and wept abundantly. From this period they were insepar able friends.

During this reconciliation, Finow explained to Mr Mariner the cause of his unseasonable rage against him for sneezing. It was not that he had any superstitious idea of it as a bad omen, but that it might have this effect upon the minds of his men, and put off his intended ceremony.

CHAPTER II.

In consequence of Tooitonga's death, the great obstacle to shutting up the communication with Hapai was, for a time at least, removed; but that it might be so more completely, the king came to a determination of having no more Tooitongas, and thus to put a stop for ever to the ceremony of inachi; conceiving that there was very little public utility in what was supposed to be the divine authority of Tooitonga, but that it was, on the contrary, a great and useless expense to the people. This measure, as may be imagined, did not prove objectionable to the wishes of the multitude, as it relieved them from a very heavy tax, and, in times of scarcity, one extremely oppressive. In regard to the religious objections which one might suppose would be started against this measure, it must be noticed that the island of Tonga had, for many years, been deprived of the power, presence, and influence of Tooitonga, owing to its political situation; and, notwithstanding, appeared no less favoured with the bounties of heaven and of nature than the other islands, excepting the mischief and destruction which arose from human passions. If Tonga therefore could exist without this divine chief, why not Vavaoo, or

any other island ? This strong argument growing still stronger, upon a little reflection, brought the chiefs, matabooles, and older members of society, to the conclusion, that Tooitonga was of no use at all; and the people, ever willing to fall into measures that greatly promote their own interest, notwithstanding a few religious scruples, very soon came to be of the same opinion.

As soon as Finow had come to this determination, and to that of shutting up all communication with the Hapai people, it became necessary to acquaint Tongamana, on his next arrival, and to forbid him ever to return to Vavaoo. In the mean time, however, as Finow had promised Tooi Bolotoo that his daughter (Mr Mariner's adopted mother) should be allowed to proceed to him at the Hapais, she was ordered to get herself and attendants ready to accompany Tongamana on his way back. Now, it happened that this person had a great number of female attendants, many of whom were the handsomest women in Vavaoo; and, as the leave granted her to depart was equally a license for the departure of her attendants, Finow became apprehensive that the expatriation of so many fine women would occasion considerable discontent among his young men, and perhaps tempt some of them to take the same step. He sent, therefore, for Máfi Hábe, and told her, that, with her leave, he would contrive some means to keep back her women: in which she perfectly coincided-two favourite attendants excepted. Matters being so far agreed on, Finow, to avoid the appearance of injustice on his part, gave Mr Mariner instructions how to act, as if it were a thought and impulse of his