*

Being arrived, they seated themselves on the green before Tooitonga. After the lapse of a little time, a woman entered the circle with her face covered up with white gnatoo. She went into the house of the malai, and proceeded towards the upper end, where there sat another woman in waiting, with a large roll of gnatoo, a wooden pillow, and a basket containing bottles of oil. The wor man, whose face was veiled, took the gnatoo from the other, wrapped herself up in it, and laying her head upon the wooden pillow, fell, or pretended to fall fast asleep. No sooner was this done than Tooitonga rose up, and, taking his bride by her hand, led her into the house, and seated her on his left hand. Twenty baked hogs were now brought into the circle of the malái, and a number of expert cooks came with knives procured from European ships-(formerly they used bamboo) to try their skill in carving with speed and dexterity, which is considered a great recommendation. A considerable part was shared out to the chiefs, each taking his portion and putting it in his bosom. The remainder of the pork was then heaped up, and scrambled for at an appointed signal. The woman who had laid herself down, co

A pillow to sleep on, in these islands, consists merely of a rod of wood about an inch in diameter, and a foot and a half long, and raised about half a foot by two diverging pieces at each end. The nape of the neck rests upon this.

+ It is a peculiar religious injunction in this ceremony, that the chiefs should put their pork in their bosoms, for they never eat it themselves; and as it is tabooed by touching them, no other native of the Tonga Islands may eat it; so that it generally falls ultimately to the lot of the natives of the Fiji Islands, or other foreigners present, who are not subject to the taboo of Tonga. For the na

vered over with gnatoo, now rose up and went away, taking with her the gnatoo, and the basket containing the bottles of oil, as her perquisites. Tooitonga then took his bride by her left hand, and led her to his dwelling, followed by the little girl and the four other attendants; and the people now dispersed, each to his home. Tooitonga being arrived with his bride at his residence, accompanied her into the house appropriated for her, where he left her to have her mats taken off, and her usual dress put on; after which she amused herself in conversation with the women. In the mean time a feast was prepared for the evening, of pigs, fowls, yams &c. and cava. This was got ready on the malai, where, about dusk, Tooitonga presiding, the company sat down to receive their portions, which the generality reserved to take home with them; the lower orders, indeed, who had but a small quantity, consumed theirs on the spot. After this the cava was shared out and drunk. The musicians (if so they can be called) next sat down at the bottom of the ring, opposite to Tooitonga, in the middle of a circle of flambeaus, held by men who also held baskets of sand to receive the ashes. The musical instruments consisted of seven or eight bamboos of different

ture of the taboo, reference must be made to the second volume of the work.

It must be noticed, that every great chief has within his fencing several houses, one or more of which always belongs to his wives. He seldom goes to their house to sleep. He generally sends for one to sleep with him; at least, this is always the case with Tooitonga, for nobody can eat, drink, or sleep in the same house with him without being tabooed.

lengths and sizes, (from three to six feet long) s0 as to produce, held by the middle, and one end being struck on the ground, different notes, according to the intended tune (all the knots being cut out of the bamboo, and one end plugged up with soft wood). The only other instrument was a piece of split bamboo, on which a man struck with two sticks, one in each hand, to regulate the time. The music was an accompaniment to dancing, which was kept up a considerable time. * The dancing being over, one of the old matabooles addressed the company, making a moral discourse on the subject of chastity,-advising the young men to respect, in all cases, the wives of their neighbours, and never to take liberties even with an unmarried woman against her free consent. The company then rose, and dispersed to their respective homes. The bride was not present at this entertainment. Tooitonga being arrived at his house, sent for the bride, who immediately obeyed the The moment they retired together the lights were extinguished, and a man, appointed at the door for the purpose, announced it to the people by three hideous yells, (similar to the warwhoop), which he followed up immediately by the loud and repeated sound of the conch.

summons.

*Their dances have already been described by Captain Cook and others; the account is therefore omitted here, not to interrupt the narrative.

CHAPTER V.

WE are now coming to a new era in the history of the Tonga islands, occasioned by the political intrigues of Toobó Tóa, a natural son of Toogoo Ahoo, by one of that king's female attendants. Toobó Tóa was the chief that formerly had the direction of the conspiracy against the Port au Prince. Not so brave and disinterested as Toobó Nuha, he partook rather of the character of Finow, with a little more ferocity, but less depth of policy. It will be recollected that Toobó Nuha was the chief that assassinated Toogoo Ahoo; ever since which period Toobó Toa's desire of revenge was most implacable. He had made a vow never to drink the milk of the cocoa-nut out of the shell

till he had fully accomplished it. He had hitherto espoused the cause of Finow against the adherents of his father, which may seem strange, as Finow himself was a principal accomplice in that assassination, though his policy did not allow him to be the immediate perpetrator; but Toobó Tóa knew well that he should have no chance of success against so strong a power as that of Finow: and joined him, that he might have, some time or other, an opportunity, however dangerous the attempt, of wreaking a signal vengeance on Tooba

Nuba. The crisis was now fast approaching, for he had well prepared the way, by constantly whispering into the ear of Finow something disadvantageous to the character of Toobó Nuha. At one time he

represented him to be the meditator of certain conspiracies; at another the enviable possessor of a happier island (Vavaoo), much more productive of every article of convenience and luxury. Sometimes he insinuated that Toobó Nuha did not pay sufficient annual tribute, considering the fertility of the island and the superior dignity of Finow; at other times he represented him as ambitious, that he sought to gain too much the love of the people, and by his success in this way became too powerful. He moreover never ceased to remind the king of the frequent opposition made by Toobó Nuha to his wise measures in regard to his warlike preparations against Tonga; and at last he had the boldness to propose his assassination. Finow, who was not at all startled at proposals of this nature, but who never wished, if possible, to appear to the world as a party concerned, lent an attentive ear to Toobó Tóa, and half promised his assistance, but advised that the execution of his project should be deferred till some future and more fit opportunity offered.

To enter properly into the merit of this account, Finow's character must all along be kept in view.*

*There is a portrait of this remarkable man in Labillardière's Account of D'Entrecasteaux' Voyage. He happens also to be described in the Journal of one of Captain Cook's officers, which is now before us: « Finow, says the writer, "appeared to be about twenty-five years of age, a tall, handsome man: he had much fire and vivacity, with a degree of wildness in his countenance that well tallied with our idea of an Indian warrior, and he