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The primitive attendants, or servants of the gods. These, like the gods to whom they belong, are original inhabitants of Bolotoo. They are considered of less quality than the souls of matabooles. They have no power in Tonga, and if they go there they cannot manifest themselves. Their number is supposed to be im

mense.

THE HOTOOA Pow, or mischievous GoDs.Of these there are perhaps several in number, but only five or six are supposed to be particularly active; and from their disposition to plague mankind, they reside more frequently at Tonga than at Bolotoo. They are accused of being the cause of all the petty inconveniences and troubles of life: and at Hamóa (or the Navigator's islands), they have an idea which is very convenient to the reputation of the females, that some of these hotooa pow molest them in their sleep, in consequence of which there are many supernatural conceptions: at Tonga, however, the matter is never carried to that extent. These hotooa pow have no priests, have no houses dedicated to them, nor are they ever invoked. All the great misfortunes of life, as has been before noticed, are special inflictions from the gods for the crimes of men: whereas the mischievous tricks played by the hotooa pow are for their own

whim and delight; they lead travellers astray, trip them up, pinch them, jump upon their backs in the dark, cause the nightmare and frightful dreams. They are never seen.

Móoor-A god that supports the earth, the earth lying on him, he being prostrate. This, as may be supposed, is a very gigantic being, greater in personal bulk than any of the others. He never inspires any body, nor ever leaves his situation. He has no house dedicated to him. When an earthquake happens, it is supposed that this god, feeling himself in an uneasy posture, is endeavouring to turn himself about; and, on such occasions, the people give loud shouts and beat the ground with sticks, which is supposed to have the effect of making him lie still. They have no idea of what he lies on, nor ever make any enquiries about it; and say it would be folly to do so, for who can go there and see?

Such is the account they give of their gods, and the respect which they pay to these imaginary beings is so great and so universal, that scarcely any instance is known of downright impiety; and indeed they have very strong motives to keep them in proper order in this respect, founded in their firm and fixed belief, that all human miseries are the consequent punishment

of crimes, and that acts of atrocity are most frequently punished by disease and death; and this risk of premature death among the tooas in particular must have a frightful aspect, as they consider the termination of life as the termination of their existence altogether. With respect to the chiefs indeed, to whom death is only a change to a better life, this apprehension may not take quite so strong a hold; nevertheless, life is always sweet, there are always some purposes of ambition or enjoyment yet to be satisfied; and when death does come, it is rather to be wished for in the field of battle than prostrate on a mat, overcome with pain and disease, in the midst of one's friends and relatives weeping and lamenting.

The next subject in order to speak of, is the origin of the habitable earth, which, according to their notions, vague as they are, is as follows:-It is believed that originally there was no land above the water but the island of Bolotoo, which, like the gods, the heavenly bodies, and the ocean, has probably always been. One day Tangaloa, the god of arts and inventions, went forth to fish in the great ocean, and having from the sky let down his hook and line into the sea, on a sudden he felt a great resistance: believing that he had caught an im

mense fish, he exerted his strength, and presently there appeared above the surface several points of rocks, which increased in number and extent the more he drew in his line: the rocky bottom of the ocean, in which it was now evident his hook had caught, was thus fast advancing to the surface, so as to have made one vast continent; when unfortunately the line broke, and the islands of Tonga remain to shew the imperfection of Tangaloa's attempt. The rock in which the hook was fixed was already above the surface, and is to be seen to this day in the island of Hoonga, where they shew the very hole where it caught. The hook was in the possession of the Tooitonga family till about thirty years ago, when it was accidentally burnt along with the house in which it was kept.

Tangaloa having thus discovered land, by the divine influence of himself and other gods it was soon replete with all kinds of trees, herbs, and animals, such as were in Bolotoo, but of an inferior quality, and subject to decay and death. Being now willing that Tonga should also be inhabited by intelligent beings, he commanded his two sons thus:*" Go, and take with

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you your wives, and dwell in the world at

*The following story is as nearly as possible a literal translation of the language in which they tell it.

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Tonga divide the land into two portions, and dwell separately from each other. They departed accordingly. The name of the "eldest was Toobó, and the name of the youngest was Váca-aco'w-oo'li, who was an "exceeding wise young man; for it was he "that first formed axes, and invented beads, "and cloth, and looking-glasses. The young "man called Toobó acted very differently, being very indolent, sauntering about and

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sleeping, and envying very much the works "of his brother. Tired at length with begging "his goods, he bethought himself to kill him, "but concealed his wicked intention; he ac"cordingly met his brother walking, and struck "him till he was dead. At that time their "father came from Bolotoo with exceeding "great anger, and asked him, Why have you "killed your brother? brother? Could not you work "like him? Oh thou wicked one! begone! (6 go with my commands to the family of Vaca"acow-oo'li tell; them to come hither. Being "accordingly come, Tangaloa straightway or"dered them thus: Put your canoes to sea, "and sail to the east, to the great land which "is there, and take up your abode there. Be

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your skins white like your minds, for your

"minds are pure; you shall be wise, making

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