done, he had the mortification to find that they were ordered to be burnt. On requiring an explanation of this extraordinary conduct, on the part of a man who appeared on other occasions to be so much his friend, he was informed, through the medium of Tooi Tooi, that the king could not, on any account, allow him to practise witchcraft to the injury of the Tonga people; and that it was well known to the king and many others, that those books and papers were instruments and means of invocation, to bring down some evil or plague upon the country. Mr. Mariner could not very well comprehend Tooi Tooi's interpretation; but when he afterwards understood the language, the king explained to him his opinion of books and papers, and gave his reasons for that opinion, in the following account. Some years ago, on the arrival of an European vessel, one of the white men came to "live among them by choice. This man's 66 name was Morgan. He lived for a consider"able time on terms of great friendship with "the natives, and was much respected by "them. Some time afterwards there came an"other European vessel," (the Duff, Captain Wilson, with the missionaries,) "and from "this ship also there came several white men, "to live by choice among them. The white 66 66 men that came last built a house, in which they used often to shut themselves up, to "sing and perform ceremonies, (as Finow ex 66 pressed it). Matters went on very well for "some time: at length a quarrel ensued be"tween Morgan and the other white men, at "first about an iron pot which he wanted to bor"row of them, and then about some pigs which they said he had stolen from them : upon this 66 66 they informed the chiefs that this Morgan "had been a bad man in his own country, and "was under sentence of banishment for his "crimes; but from the full execution of which "he had escaped." (He had actually escaped from Botany Bay.) "The people then began "to treat Morgan with every species of insult, 66 so that his life was very uncomfortable, and "often in great danger. Morgan in his turn "told the chiefs who they were; viz. that they "were men sent out by the king of England, "to bring a pestilence upon the people of Tonga, and that they accordingly shut them"selves up in this house, to perform witch 66 66 craft, and make incantations, which was the "cause of the pestilence that then raged:" (there was an epidemic disease at the time, which was very fatal among the chiefs, two or three dying every day) " and that all their books "were books of witchcraft. The chiefs began "to take Morgan's statement into serious con"sideration; there certainly was a great mortality among them: the white men often as 66 66 sembled, and sang very loud; besides which, "they would not let the Tonga people be pre"sent; and to prevent them even from peeping 66 through the crevices of the reed fencing "of the house, they stopt them up with alt "kinds of filth, knowing that the cleanliness of "the Tonga people would not then allow them "even to approach. And the chiefs said to 66 themselves, if these people are doing no harm, why do not they allow us to be pre"sent? we do not conceal our ceremonies "from them, why do not they expose theirs to "us? In the mean while Morgan said to the "chiefs, You see the effect of their incanta❝tions; several of you are dying every day; by and by you will be all cut off, and the king of England will take possession of your islands; for although you have the remedy in your power, you will not make "use of it.'—The chiefs took the alarm in "time; they rushed upon the white men, and 66 6 666 66 6 666 "killed all but three, who were at that time "under the protection of Veachi;" a great chief, hereafter to be noticed. Such was the cause of the fate of the missionaries, as related by the king to Mr. Mariner, who often afterwards heard the same relation from other chiefs. He enquired what became of the three that were under the protection of Veachi, and learnt that they were killed during a civil war they might indeed have made their escape, along with some natives who invited them into a canoe, which was going to another island, but they chose to remain; urging for their reason that they had not quarrelled with any of the Tonga people, and that consequently they should not be hurt; the others informed them, however, that it was the Tonga custom not only to kill an enemy, but also all his friends and relations, if possible: the three missionaries then replied that as they had done no harm, and meant no harm, their God would protect them at this moment, a party of natives, who were lying in wait in a neighbouring thicket, rushed out and killed them with their spears. The natives in the canoe pushed off from the shore, and made their escape.—How necessary it is to know the customs of the country! how baneful it is to be presumptuous! Our best intentions may be ruined by the ignorance of the one, and influence of the other. But to return from this digression; Mr. Mariner, and his companions, ignorant of the language of the country, and of the customs of the people, were often much distressed for want of food: sometimes food was brought to them, but often not; sometimes they were invited by the natives to walk into their houses and eat with them; but frequently they seemed to be quite neglected, and were reduced to the necessity of procuring what they wanted by stealth. At length, through Tooi Tooi's interpretation, Mr. Mariner made known their wants to the king, upon which the latter seemed greatly surprised at their apparent stupidity; and enquired how food was obtained in England: and when he heard that every man procured the necessary supplies for himself and family by purchase, and that his friends, for the most part, only partook by invitation, and that strangers were scarcely ever invited, unless with a view of forming an acquaintance; he laughed at what he called the ill-nature and selfishness of the white people; and told Mr. Mariner that the Tonga custom was far better, and that he had nothing to do when he felt himself hungry but to go into any house where eating and drinking |