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after so obstinate a rebellion, but they come to endeavour to convince you of their sorrow for so great and heinous a crime. They have no expectation but to die, therefore your will be done."* After a short pause, the priest added, "Pass your sentence, Finow:" he then rose up and retired among the people. In a little time, Finow said to the supplicants, "Toogooá he lo ifi," Take off the if leaves (which is a sign of pardon): of which command they took no notice, as if unwilling to believe so great a mercy was shown to them. Finow again said, "Toogooá he lo ifi," upon which they all complied, but remained in the same posture. Before we go further it must be observed, that there were vacant places left among Finow's chiefs and matabooles for Toobó Malohi and his principal followers, who were of sufficient rank, to be called to them after they had received their pardon; but for a great chief, circumstanced as was Toobó Malohi, to obey this summons (which is always pronounced by the mataboole sitting next to Finow) would neither be so 'respectful nor so prudent as to remain where he was, and take no notice of it, as if altogether unworthy of being so exalted; whilst a chief of less noble rank would not hesitate to obey the command, and take the seat appointed for him. All this is done upon the principle, that a great chief, so offending, ought to keep himself as humble as possible, lest, having great power and authority, he might be suspected of intentions to equalize himself with his superiors, and ultimately to revolt. Whereas minor chiefs, having but little power, are not liable to

*This speech of the priests is to be considered more a matter of form than the real sentiments of the suppliants.

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excite jealousies: besides which, these minor chiefs, being governed by their superior, are thought to be less criminal than he who leads them astray by his authority. This formed a subject of dispute, beforehand, among the company. Some thought that Toobó Malohi would instantly obey the order to take his appointed seat, conscious of his exalted rank, and fearless of the jealousy of Finow. The greater part, however, were of opinion, that he would remain where he was, knowing well the revengeful disposition of the How, and his promptitude to sacrifice those whom he suspected. In a little time this matter was put out of dispute. The mataboole on Finow's right hand exclaimed aloud, "Toobó Malohi! here is a place for you. The chief seemed not to hear the summons, keeping his head bowed down to the earth. The mataboole again said, "Toobó Malohi! here is a place for you; but his ears were still shut, and he preserved the same humble posture. The mataboole then said to the others successively (mentioning their names in the order of their rank), “ Here is a place for you; and they accordingly seated themselves as their names were called over, in the places appointed for them (i. e. those who were of sufficient rank to sit in the circle, the others retiring among the people), leaving Toobó Malohi seated by himself in the middle of the ring. Cava was now prepared, and served out to the company, each in his turn, according to his rank, not excepting Toobo Malohi, who, in this case, was served the fourth. When the cava was presented to him, he neither took it nor raised up his head, but speaking to somebody who sat a little behind him, that person stretched his arms forward, and took

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it away, reserving it for Toobó Malohi, to drink after the cava party should be dissolved. The company, having finished their cava, dispersed, and Toobé Malohi retired to take his. This chief and his followers remained at Vavaoo about a fortnight before they sailed to the Hapai Islands; during which time he entertained Finow with an account of different transactions at Tonga, relating what conspiracies had been devised, what battles had been fought, what brave chiefs and warriors had fallen. Every time he mentioned the death of a hero, Finow struck his breast with his fist, exclaiming, "What a warrior has fallen in a useor something to that purpose. Before Toobó Malohi and his chiefs took their departure, Finow repeated his orders to Toobó Toa to keep a watchful eye upon them, and to give him the earliest information, if he discovered any symptoms of conspiracy; for he said he expected something of the kind, as they were all choice warriors, and had been well experienced at the Fiji Islands.

less war!

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CHAPTER XII.

SHORTLY after Toobo Malóhi and his followers had departed for the Hapai Islands, Finow's younger daughter, named Saw-aw mái Lalángi (which, in the Hamoa language, means descended from the sky), about six or seven years of age, fell sick; on which occasion she was removed from her father's house to another inside a fencing, consecrated to Tali-y-Toobo, the patron god of the Hows. Almost every morning a hog was killed, dressed, and presented before the house, as an offering to the god, that he might spare her life for the sake of Finow. On these occasions, one or other of the matabooles, and sometimes two or three in succession, made an address to the invoked divinity (for he had no priest), to the following purpose: "Here thou seest assembled Finow and his chiefs, and the principal matabooles of thy favoured land," (the Tonga Islands, taken collectively), "thou seest them humbled before thee. We pray thee not to be merciless, but spare the life of the woman for the sake of her father, who has always been attentive to every religious

*On such occasions they call the person for whom they intercede, however young, either a man, or woman, according to the sex, although they have appropriate words to express boy, girl, and child.

ceremony; but if thy anger is justly excited by some crime or misdemeanour committed by any other of us who are here assembled, we entreat thee to inflict on the guilty one the punishment which he merits, and not to let go thy vengeance on one who was born but as yesterday. For our own parts, why do we wish to live but for the sake of Finow? but if his family is afflicted, we are all afflicted, innocent as well as guilty. How canst thou be merciless! dost thou not see here Finów ?and is not A'foo here, who descended from ancient Tonga chiefs now in Bolótoo?-and is not Fotoo here, and did he not descend from Moomoće, formerly How of Tonga?—and is not A'lo here, and Niucápoo, and Toobó ?-Then why art thou merciless ? (spoken in rather an impatient and peremptory tone) "have regard for Finow, and save the life of his daughter.

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Every morning, as before stated, for about a fortnight, a hog was killed and offered to the god, and addresses were made similar to the above, and repeated five, six, or seven times a day, but the god seemed not to harken to their petition, and the child daily became worse. In about fourteen or sixteen days, finding their prayers unavailing, they took her to another fencing in the neighbourhood, consecrated to Toói foóa Bolótoo. Here the same ceremonies were practised for about a week, with as little good result. Finow, finding his daughter getting worse instead of better, ordered his large canoes to be launched, and his wives, chiefs, matabooles, in short his whole house

+ Finow was noted for his want of religion. The above words, therefore, were used as mere form, and because no one dared to say otherwise.

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