The games and familiar pastimes in use among them are numerous; and we shall now give a short account of each, according to the order in which they are generally esteemed.

Liagi. This is the first and most important of all Tonga games. It is one which every chief and mataboole is expected to be well acquainted with; and no others ever attempt to learn it. It is played either by two persons, or four. For simplicity's sake, we will first suppose that two are playing. They sit opposite to each other, and make signs with the hands simultaneously. The one whose turn it is to count making one or other of three signs, i. e. by a sudden jerk of his arm, presenting either his open hand, his closed hand, or the extended index finger (the others and the thumb being clenched): his opponent at the same moment also makes a sign, and if it happens to be the same, it becomes his turn to play, and the first gains nothing; but if he succeeds in making one or other of these three signs, without his opponent making the same, five different times running, he throws down a little stick, of which he holds five in his left hand. It is now the other's turn to play, and he must endeavour to do the same; and whichever in this manner disposes of his five sticks first, wins the game: but if his antagonist imitates him before he can make five signs, we will suppose at the fourth, he has a right to demand what were the three other movements on each side. If his opponent cannot mention them in the order in which they happened, and give a feigned reason for every individual motion on both sides, in the technical language of the game, according to a certain invariable system laid down, he

may begin his count again. Giving these supposed or artificial reasons for each move is the most difficult part of the game, because it will vary according to the order of each of the moves that preceded it. When four play, they sit as in our game of whist, but each is the antagonist of the one opposite to him; and when one has got out his five sticks, he assists his partner by taking one or two of his sticks, and continuing to play. The rapidity with which these motions are made is almost incredible, and no inexperienced eye can catch one of them. The eagerness with which they play, the enthusiasm which they work themselves into, the readiness with which those that are clever give the requisite explanation to every combination of signs, always appear very extraordinary to a stranger.

Fanna Kalai: for a description of this sport, see vol. I. p. 203.

Fanna Gooma, or rat-shooting for a description of this sport, see vol. I. p. 225.

Jia Loobe, catching pigeons with a net. This is not a very usual sport at present, though for merly it used to be. The net used for the purpose is small, with a narrow opening, affixed to the end of a rod of about twelve feet in length. The sportsman who holds it is concealed in a small cabin about five feet high, nearly in form of a bee-hive, in which there is a perpendicular slit dividing it quite in half, by which he can move his rod completely from side to side. There are eight or nine of these cabins, in each of which perhaps, there is a sportsman with his net. The only mode of entrance is by separating the two halves of the cabin from each other. These recep

tacles are usually situated round the upper part of a raised mount. On the outside of each there is a trained pigeon tied by the leg, and near at hand stands an attendant with another trained bird, tied in like manner to the end of a very long line, which is suffered to fly out to the whole extent of the string, the other end being held by the man. The pigeon thus describes a considerable circle in the air round the mount beneath. The flight of this bird, and the constant cooing of those below, attract a number of wild pigeons to the neighbourhood, when the man by checking the string calls in his pigeon, which immediately perches upon his finger. He then conceals himself with the other attendants, in a sort of alcove at the top of the mount. The wild pigeons now approaching the tame ones, are caught in the nets by the dexterous management of the sportsmen.

Alo, catching Bonito. This is performed by a line and hook affixed to a long bamboo, and is so placed that the line falls very near the stern of the canoe, and the hook just touches the surface of the water, upon which it skims along as the canoe proceeds with velocity. The hook is not barbed, and there is no bait attached to it. The moment the fish is hooked, the fisherman, by a dexterous turn of the rod, gives the line a sweep round, and the fish swings into his hand.

Toló throwing up a heavy spear, with intent that it shall fall on, and stick into the top of a piece of soft wood fixed on the end of a post. There are generally six or eight players on each side, and whichever party in three throws sticks in most spears wins the game. The post is about five or six feet high, and the surface of the soft

The

wood is about nine inches in diameter. thrower may stand at what distance he pleases.

Fanifo, swimming in the surf. This bold and manly exercise has been well described by Cook, as seen by him at the Sandwich Islands; but the natives of Tonga use no board.

Fungatoóa, wrestling; Fetági, club-fighting; Foohoo, boxing; Toitaców, a general boxingmatch, have been already described. Láffo, or pitching beans upon a mat, attempting to strike off others that have been pitched there before.

Tow pápá, or throwing false spears at one another, to practise the eye in avoiding them.

They have a sport the name of which is forgotten; but it consists in carrying a large stone under water ten feet deep, from one post to another, at the distance of seventy yards, the party who carries the stone running along the bottom. The difficulty is to pursue a straight course: a person may thus run much faster than another can swim. Matooa: this game is somewhat similar to liagi, but there is no discussion about the moves. usually practised by the lower orders.

It is

Hico, throwing up balls, five in number, discharging them from the left hand, catching them in the right, and transferring them to the left again, and so on in constant succession, keeping always four balls in the air at once. This is usually practised by women. They recite verses at the same time, each jaculation from the right to the left hand being coincident with the cadence of the verse : for every verse that she finishes without missing she counts one. Sometimes seven or eight play alternately.

Habo: this is a game similar to cup and ball, and is also practised by women only.

The natives very often amuse themselves with these games. When any dispute arises in their play, the women decide it by spinning a cocoanut, and the men by a wrestling match: as to a serious quarrel from this source, Mr Mariner never witnessed one during the whole time he was there. Conversation with people who have travelled is another great source of amusement to them. They are very fond of tales and anecdotes, and there are many individuals who are tolerably skilful in inventing these things, which are then mostly of a burlesque or humorous tendency, but always given as fables. The kind of conversation which appears to afford them most pleasure is, concerniing the manners and customs of the people of Papalangi, as being not only strange and wonderful, but also true! They employ themselves in conversation, not only at any time during the day, but also at night. If one wakes, and is not disposed to go to sleep again, he wakens his neighbour, to have some talk. * By and by, perhaps, they are all roused, and join in the conversation. It sometimes happens, that the chief has ordered his cooks, in the evening, to bake a pig, or some fish, and bring it in hot in the middle of the night, with some yams. In this case the torches are again lighted, and they all get up to eat their share; after which they retire to their mats, the torches are put out, some go to sleep, and others, perhaps, talk till day-light. The first * Sometimes two or three, at other times thirty or for ty, may be sleeping in the same house.

VOL. II.

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