their opponents; * which being granted, a number came out of the garrison to take a farewell of their relatives, perhaps the last farewell of those who were about to fight against them. Here ensued a moving scene; many tears were shed on both sides, and many a last embrace exchanged. This affecting spectacle had lasted about two hours, when a circumstance occurred, unfortuuate enough in its consequences, but which might have turned out still more so. One of the enemy, upon the outer bank of the fortress, wantonly shot an arrow at Mr Mariner, but which missed him, and stuck in a tree close at his elbow. He immediately turned about, and, discovering the man who discharged it, levelled his musket, on the impulse of the moment, and shot him dead upon the spot. Instantly the enemy sounded the war-whoop, and all was uproar and confusion. The king, not understanding the cause, was in a violent rage with Mr Mariner, and sent a man to demand his musket, which the latter, feeling himself aggrieved, peremptorily refused. Finow, by this time, becoming somewhat more calm, and learning the true cause of the disaster, was speedily reconciled. In the mean time the enemy, conceiving this to be a piece of treachery, returned to their entrench * In a civil war at these islands, as well as at other places, it often happens that sons have to fight against their fathers, and brothers against their brothers; but what renders this circumstance still more common at Tonga, is the adherence to an old established custom, which binds every man in honour to join the cause of that chief on whose island he happens to be at the time the war is declared, unless some circumstance, as particular relationship between great men, engages the chief of the island, upon earnest request, to give him liberty to depart. arrows. ments and assailed the besiegers with showers of The king now ordered the great guns to open a fire upon the fort, but they seemed to do little or no injury to the works, owing to the height of the place and the strength of the embankment. Several, however, were killed who ventured outside of it. The firing had lasted, with occasional intermissions, for six or seven hours, when a considerable number of the enemy were perceived coming out of the fencing, and sheltering themselves behind the banks, with the evident intention of sallying forth. Upon this the king ordered all his men to sit down, and to remain perfectly quiet and steady, although the enemy should advance quite close to them, till they received his further orders to rise up and rush upon them. They accordingly sat down. A party of fifteen or sixteen now came down from the fort, and seven or eight of the Hapai people ran forward to skirmish with them. One of the advanced party of the enemy came up to within fifteen or sixteen yards of the carronade, of which Mr Mariner had the charge, and there stood, brandishing his spear in a threatening attitude. Mr Mariner immediately fired the gun at him, but the moment the match was applied the man fell flat on his face, and the shot missed him. The moment after he sprung up again, and advanced forward to within ten paces of the gun, dancing and making sundry warlike gesticulations. He then brandished and threw his spear, intending it to enter the gun, but it struck against the muzzle. Mr Mariner, astonished at the boldness and presumption of this warrior, was determined to punish him for his rashness, and accordingly levelled his musket; but, just as he was pul ling the trigger, an arrow struck the barrel of the piece, and caused him to miss his aim. The warrior then shouted aloud, and returned with all speed to the fortress. Here the reader will no doubt recollect the bravado of a man who assumed the name of Fanna Fonnooa, and declared that he would advance boldly up to a gun and throw his spear into the mouth of it, by way of expressing his contempt for this instrument of warfare. This warrior was the man; and no doubt he would have paid dearly for his temerity, had Mr Mariner been prepared for him, but having treated that threat as an idle boast, he had altogether forgotten the circumstance, and did not again reflect on it till after it was over. The main body of the enemy was still stationed behind the banks, upon places cut for them to stand on, so that they were defended breast high, and had an opportunity of discharging their arrows in abundance, without the risk of receiving a shot in return. After a time, however, they came forth from their stronghold, and assembled on the outside, forming themselves quickly into three divisions, the same as Finow's army. Most of the greatest and bravest warriors stationed themselves in the left wing, with the view of descending, with all their concentrated power, on Finow's right wing, commanded by Toobó Tea, along with whom were the other principal men that had assassinated Toobo Nuha, six or seven in number. Against each of these, twenty of the enemy's left wing had orders to throw their spears, at a signal to be given, without directing their attention particularly to any one else, each party of twenty having singled out its man. These matters having been arranged, and having stationed themselves outside the bank as above stated, the whole advanced slowly and steadily forward. Finow's men still remained seated on the ground, according to the orders that had been given them, except a few who danced before them, by way of showing their contempt for the enemy, and of provoking them to hostilities. Mr Mariner requested Finow to order these men in, that a cannonade might be opened upon the enemy; but the king objected, stating, that as they ventured forward in an open body, he would receive their attack, and fight them upon equal terms; that these guns gave him too great an advantage, such as he scorned to take; that it was more honourable to fight them man to man, than to use against them arms that were rather fitted for the hostilities of spirits than of men ; at the same time he returned his thanks for the advantages formerly derived from the use of these weapons, which he thought well calculated for the destruction of forts. The enemy now advanced within thirty paces, and threw their spears. Instantly the Hapai army, too eager to remain longer quiet, sprang up, and, rushing upon their foes, a close engagement commenced, which was obstinately maintained for about an hour, when the enemy were repulsed, and beaten completely back into their fortress. It was now twilight, but the Hapai warriors pursued them to their very doors. One chief in particular, Chioolooa, although he was wounded in the breast by a five-barbed spear, the shaft of which he had broken * The use of artillery seems to have conveyed to the imagination of Finow the same idea of tremendous warfare as is inspired by the expression of our great poet"Battle dangerous to less than gods." off, rushed even within the banks of their fortress, and there killed a man with his club. In making his retreat, however, he was wounded in the back by another spear, which, not being barbed, he drew out, and ran back to his own party; but the wound was mortal, and he lingered till the next day. This was the same chief, who, on the day of Toobo Nuha's burial, challenged any of the Vavaoo people to fight him. He came to battle, he said, with a kind of presentiment that he should be killed, and was determined, therefore, to sell his life as dearly as possible. It is not at all extraordinary that most of those who had assisted in the assassination of Toobo Nuha should fall victims, in this battle, to the vengeance of the enemy; but it is very extraordinary that one among them, viz. Latoo Ila, who, as may be remembered, insulted the body of Toobo Nuha, and upbraided him with the murder of his father, should altogether escape without a single wound worth mentioning; although, like the rest of the assassins, he was the object of their vengeance. The circumstance gave rise to the general opinion, that he was defended by the gods. He certainly fought with uncommon bravery, and this was the first time he had distinguished himself; but it must be kept in recollection, that he was actuated by revenge. During this battle, several of the Hapai women came to the scene of action, that they might be near their husbands to assist them if wounded. One of them, the wife of Toobo Toa (Toobo Aho Méë), was taken prisoner by the enemy, but extremely well used by them; and about three weeks afterwards she was sent back, from motives of respect, because she was a great egi (chief) of the family |