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same reason, he could not wear them. Finow was not satisfied with this plea, and, the man still protesting his innocence, Finow ordered him to be immediately despatched with a club. This being done, he again threatened the woman, and she as strongly protested her innocence; but when the club, which had just ended the life of her husband, was raised over her own head, she acknowledged that she had concealed another tooth, and accordingly brought it from a different place; and being unable or unwilling to produce any more, she shared the same fate. If Finow's conduct here seems cruel, we are to place a great deal to the ac, count of the state of society in which he lived; and, at the same time, we must consider, that robbery is punished with death in other countries, as well as in Tonga. Both the man and woman, in all probability, were guilty ;-the woman certainly was; and yet she could bear to see her husband sacrificed before her face, rather than confess all she knew of the matter, and entreat mercy for him at least, if not for herself. The remainder of these teeth were discovered long afterwards, by the particular intervention (as the natives will have it) of the gods. A few years had elapsed, when, there being occasion to build and consecrate a house to some god on the Island of Lefooga, it was taken into consideration what valuable article should be deposited beneath its foundation, according to the custom on such occasions. They were about to get ready a large bale of gnatoo for this purpose, when the inspired priest of the god declared it to be wish of the divinity to have some whale's teeth; and that there were several buried together on the small island just spoken of, in such

a particular spot; which place being referred to and dug up, the teeth were found in a perfect state. This discovery was most firmly and most piously believed to have been made by the sacred interposition of the god himself, who inspired his favourite priest with the requisite knowledge to make it.

In the Fiji Islands, whales' teeth are held, if possible, in still greater estimation; for it would be dangerous there for a man, unless he be a great chief, and even then, if he were a foreigner, to be known to have a whale's tooth about him. The personal possession of such valuable property would endanger his life.

About this time the Hope, Captain Chase, of New York, arrived off the north-west coast of Vavaoo. When Mr Mariner heard the agreeable intelligence, he was with Finow at the small island of Ofoo, on the eastern coast, and he immediately asked the king leave to go on board, who very readily and very kindly gave his permission. Several matabooles were with him, one of whom whispered something to the king, which Mr Mariner imagining to be prejudicial to himself, endeavoured to distract Finow's attention, by repeatedly thanking him for his liberal conduct towards him, and expressing the grateful sense he entertained of his long continued friendship and protection; assuring him, that he had no other wish to leave the islands but what was prompted by the natural desire of returning to his native country, and the bosom of his friends. In the mean time, he very distinctly heard the king say to the mataboole, "But why should I keep him? and shortly after, his order to a fisherman to get ready instantly a certain canoe, and paddle Mr Mariner on board, removed

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from his mind a load of anxiety. He again and again thanked his benefactor; and, taking an affectionate leave of him, got into the canoe, and pushed off from the beach. There were three men to paddle, who, after four or five hours hard pulling, came up alongside the vessel. He saw upon the deck, Jeremiah Higgins, John Parish, and Hugh Williams. He hailed the ship; when some one looked over the quarter, and said, "We can't take you, young man ; we have more hands than we know what to do with." Mr Mariner could hardly believe the evidence of his senses; not take him! when he saw three of his companions already on board. He began to expostulate" It is no use your saying any thing, we can't take you," replied the other. He then offered to procure whatever provisions the ship might want; but the unfeeling miscreant turned his back, and gave no answer. Thus, in one minute, from the elevation of hope his soul sunk into despair; what to say-what to do he knew not. Beside suffering the acute pain of disappointment, he found himself in a very awkward dilemma. If the natives knew that the captain had refused to take him, it would hurt his reputation greatly in their esteem, as they would look upon him to be a low-born tooa, without friends or consideration in his own country. During this time the men in the canoe were too much occupied in viewing the appearance of the ship, to pay much attention to him. Having at length a little recovered himself by resisting the disagreeable ideas that were crowding in upon his mind, he endeavoured to assume a cheerful countenance; and informed the men that unfortunately the ship was bound to a country as far from his, as his was

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from Tonga; and although the captain wished him to come on board, he had determined to remain at Vavaoo until some British ship should arrive.— With feelings that almost choked his utterance, he now ordered them to return to Ofoo. Every body wondered to see him return: his story, however, was readily believed; but it seemed strange that he had brought them no presents from on board. "What a number of axes he has got for us!" said one ironically: "And what a heap of lookingglasses!" said another. "Beads will now become quite common, said a third; "for Togi is going to give necklaces to all the girls in Vavaoo.' These jokes were exceedingly mortifying, and nothing could be worse timed. He endeavoured to laugh at their humour; and by way of apology for his neglect, he told them that he was so disappointed at not finding the ship bound for his own country, that he had forgotten to ask for some presents and besides, that he knew she had very few of those things on board, as she came from a country where they were scarce. Finow endeavoured to console him for his disappointment, assuring him in the kindest manner that he should go by the next ship bound to his own country.

Another month now elapsed without any important circumstance occurring, when there arrived from the Fiji Islands four canoes, bringing a Tonga mataboole, named Cow Mooala and his retinue, who had been absent from Tonga many years: But a narrative of this person's adventures in foreign isands will best form a chapter of itself.

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CHAPTER X.

Cow MOOALA went out to the Fiji Islands with a number of young men, for the sake of an excursion, and to mingle in the wars of those people; sometimes at one island, sometimes at another, from the same motives probably as actuated Tooi Hala Fatai: (see p. 78). After having been absent about two years, he set sail on his return home, and having arrived within sight of Vavaoo, the wind became unfavourable to land, and the sea running very high, he was obliged to change his course, and make for Hamoa, (the Navigator's Islands); but the wind soon increasing to a heavy gale, drifted him to the Island of Fotoona, situated to the north-west of Hamoa. As soon as the natives of this place observed his approach, a number of small canoes (for they were not in possession of sailing canoes) came from the shore to meet him; and, consistently with the laws and customs of the island, took possession of his canoe, and all his property. It forms an important part of the religion of this island to consider every thing that arrives there, whether of great or little value, as the property of their gods; no matter whether it be a large canoe, or a log of wood. It is first

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