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their love and respect for him as an individual, but, as they were determined to live free, they would neither propose nor accept of any other terms. The king then ordered his matabooles to conduct him to his canoe, and, turning towards the Vavaoo people, said, "Live, then, among yourselves in idleness, and we will return to Hapai.

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During the time that Finow was addressing the Vavaoo people, the matabooles and warriors that surrounded his canoe (among whom was Mr Mariner) appeared much moved, and several shed tears; for his powers of persuasion were such, that, in defending his own cause, he seemed to be the most worthy, the most innocent, and the most un

justly used. On this account the greater chiefs

and old matabooles of Vavaoo remained in the fortress, fearing to listen to his arguments, lest, being drawn aside by the power of his eloquence, they might mistake that for truth which was not, and even lead the young and ardent warriors into an error.

The fortress, on the top of a steep rising ground, presented a most formidable and warlike appearance. Its extent seemed enormous; and the tops of the white reeds, which were seen at a distance above the banks of red clay, being strongly illuminated by the sun, represented to the imagination of Mr Mariner the spears and javelins of ancient heroes, drawn up in battle array. On the top of the banks a number of warriors, armed with clubs and spears, were running to and fro, with fine light streamers,* full thirteen feet long, attached to their heads and arms, which, floating in the wind, produced a most romantic effect.

* These streamers consist of the fine membrane stripped off from the under side of the cocoa-nut leaf,

The king and his matabooles being now returned to their canoe, the expedition proceeded out of the inlet, and arrived shortly at a small island, on which they landed, and stripped it of almost all its cava root. It is here proper to mention, that all the islands adjacent to Vavaoo were deserted by order of Toe Oomoo, that the people might be more safely situated in or near the fortress, in case of an invasion. The three canoes afterwards proceeded a little farther onward, and put in for the night at a small island, called Hoonga, about two miles from Vavaoo. The next morning they resumed their voyage, and in the afternoon reached Haano, the nearest of the Hapai Islands.

CHAPTER VI.

THE day after the return of the expedition, the gods were invoked in the usual way, and the oracular answer given was, to proceed immediately to war against Vavaoo. All things being in readiness, the following morning the king embarked with the whole of his forces, about 5000 men, besides 1000 women, in fifty large canoes, containing also the four carronades, ammunition, and every thing necessary for a vigorous attack upon the strong fortress of Vavaoo. Towards evening, they arrived at Fonnooi-fooa, one of the small islands in the neighbourhood of Vavaoo, whence Finow despatched four canoes, manned with select warriors, up the inlet, towards the fortress, with orders to kill whomsoever they could. They succeeded in killing three men, and severely wounding a fourth, whom, with the three dead bodies, they brought to Finow. Killing these three men, in the first attempt upon the enemy, was by no means to be considered a trifling advantage; for it was supposed to augur the protection of the gods, and great fu

ture success.

Early in the morning, the Hapai fleet proceeded up the inlet to Neafoo, the consecrated spot formerly mentioned, where they landed safely,

The four car

leaving the women in the canoes. ronades were planted opposite the house of a neighbouring malái, ready to be drawn up the following morning to the fortress, which was about three miles off; and the day was spent in settling and arranging sundry matters. During the night, which was exceedingly dark, a considerable degree of alarm was excited by two or three of the enemy, who approached, and threw a spear among a number of Finow's people, asleep near the house. It happened, however, to strike a bundle of spears that was placed upright against a tree, and, throwing it down, occasioned such a noise, that several of the men were awakened by it, who, thinking that the main body of the enemy was coming down upon them, began to run away. At this moment, one of them, more courageous than the rest, snatching up a piece of lighted wood, applied it to the touch-hole of one of the guns, which instantly went off, and produced such an effect on the enemy, that no more was heard of him that night. This certainly was a bold act for a man who had never before fired a gun in his life, and might in the worst case have been productive of the best effects; for, if the enemy had come in considerable numbers, as was at the moment falsely imagined, and this man had not had such presence of mind, all Finow's army might have been put completely to the rout, their guns taken from them, and a vast number of them slain. As it was, the report of the gun, awakening all who were yet asleep, induced such a degree of consternation as is scarcely to be conceived. They ran in all directions, but most of them to the canoes, and it was some time before their fears were suf

ficiently calmed to permit their return. The man who performed this exploit received much praise and respect for his bravery. As to promotion, it is a thing not known among them; for, as will be explained hereafter, no man can hold a rank in society which he is not born to; and as to other modes of reward, the merit of a good or brave action, together with the admiration and respect which it creates, is considered its best reward, unless the party makes a point to boast of it, and then his merit is set almost at nought.

Early the following morning, Finow divided his army into three grand divisions: the right wing was commanded by Toobó Tóa, the left by Liocfau, chief of Haano, and the centre by himself. The guns were allotted, two to the centre, and one to each flank, and were managed by seven Englishmen, besides Mr Mariner and a black native of South America, taken by the Port au Prince in one of her prizes. Matters being thus arranged, and Finow having repeated the orders he had formerly issued, viz. that his men should keep themselves perfectly steady, and not attack the enemy till they were quite close to them,—the army began its march towards the garrison. After four or five hours interrupted progress, òwing chiefly to the weight of the guns and the badness of the road, they arrived before the fortress, on the banks of which a vast number of the enemy were assembled. As they approached, a shower of arrows was discharged upon them; but Finow ordered a mataboole to advance forward and request an armistice, that each party might take leave of what friends and relations they might have among

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