An Account of the Natives of the Tonga Islands/Chapter V
CHAPTER V.
We are now coming to a new æra 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: he was a man of not quite so brave and disinterested a spirit as Toobó Nuha; he partook rather of the character of Finow, with a little more ferocity, but somewhat 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; and 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 indeed all along 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; he therefore joined him, that he might have, some time or another, an opportunity, however dangerous the attempt, of wreaking a signal vengeance on Toobó Nuha. The crisis was now fast approaching, for he had well prepared the way for it, 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: 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: he was a man of a deep and designing spirit, always willing to favour any conspiracy that promised to advance his interests, but exceedingly cautious how he let any body know his intentions, even the party that proposed it. He always conducted himself with such admirable policy, that no one, not even his most intimate acquaintance, could dive thoroughly into his projects. Toobó Nuha, (his brother,) on the contrary, was a truly brave man, and, upon the whole, of an undesigning and exceedingly liberal mind; for though he had proposed and perpetrated the assassination of Toogoo Ahoo, it was believed to be not so much to avenge his own personal wrongs as those of his country: he often used to express to Mr. Mariner the extent and nature of his feelings on that occasion, how he regretted that so many beautiful and innocent women should be sacrificed at the same time[1]; yet how strongly he felt that the liberty of his country was that moment in his power, whilst the desire of avenging its wrongs was like a raging thirst that overpowered every other sensation: no sooner was the blow struck than he saved all that he could save, a little child of three years old, which he bore away in his arms from the scene of slaughter. The liberality of his mind will appear also from the answers he made to those who sometimes threw out hints to him that Finow was not his friend, and that it was therefore proper for him always to go armed: "Finow," he replied, "is my brother—he is " my superior chief-he is king of these islands. and I pay him tribute as a servant; if he has " any reason to be dissatisfied with my conduct, " my life is at his disposal, and he is welcome " to take it, for it is better to die than to live " innocent and yet be thought capable of treachery; — besides, I will not arm myself " against a power to which, as long as the " country is well governed, it is my duty to " submit."
This brave chief was still at Lefooga with all his army, in daily expectation of receiving orders from the king for their return to Vavaoo. Toobó Tóa thought the opportunity too advantageous to be lost: he did not approve of the advice of Finow, to wait yet a little longer. What opportunity, he thought, could be better than the present, while Toobó Nuha was still on the same island with him, and the king seemed disposed to favour his views? He had harboured sentiments of revenge so long within his breast, and the fitness of the occasion so spurred his resolution, that every day's delay appeared in his imagination the loss of an age. Finow's feeling upon the subject was supposed not to be very far remote from that of Toobó Tóa; but as he saw very clearly that this chiefs determination was fully bent upon his purpose, and required no encouragement from him, he chose merely by an outward shew of moderation and wisdom to give a sort of passive consent, and to remain by this means the spec- tator rather than the actor in the scene, and so to avoid if possible the odium of being an ac- complice in the murder of so brave and good a man. A few days now elapsed, and Toobo Nuha was still among the number of the living. One evening, about an hour before sun-set, the king desn-ed Mr. Mariner to accompany him and his daughter to Mahina Fekite, about three quar- ters of a mile off; he was going, he said, to consult an old chief, Toge he Mooana, who resided there, upon some political business. Finow usually carried out with him a large whaling knife, (the blade of which was two feet long and three inches wide ;) Mr. Mariner, ob- serving, on this occasion, that he did not take his knife, asked him if he should take it and carry it for him^; he replied. No, I have no need of it: the other obeyed, and followed* him and his daughter, unarmed. In their way they came near to a pool, and Finow stepped aside to bathe, previously sending an attendant to Toobo Nuha, to desire him to come to him. By the time he had done bathing Toobo Nuha
- When several persons walk together, it is customary
for one to follow another in a row. THE TONGA ISLANDS. 137 arrived, and all four pursued their walk to the old chiefs house ; where, when they arrived, the two chiefs and Finow*s daughter entered the. inside fencing, while Mr. Mariner went into a house within the outside fencing, and remained in conversation with a female attend- ant of Finow's daughter. They had not been long here, before Toobo Toa came in and shortly after went out again. There entered soon after four men belonging to him, who im- mediately began to take down the sail, mast and sprits of a small canoe j stating as their motive, when questioned by the woman, Tooba Toa's orders to prepare a canoe*; having taken what they wanted, they went out. In about two hours Finow came out of the inner fenc- ing, followed by Toobo Nuha and his own daughter ; as they passed on, Mr. Mariner fol- lowed her, and the female attendant walked last. — It was now night, but somewhat moon- light. As they passed the corner of the outer fencing, Toobo Toa and the four men just spoken of rushed from their hiding-place, and made a violent assault on Toobo Nuha : the first blow of a club he received on his shoulder, (intended
- The orders they had received from Toobo Toa were, ia
fact, to get ready a canoe to make his escape in, if his in- tended project against the life of Toobo Nuha should fail. These four men were his confidents. for his head:) he immediately exclaimed "O iaooé Finow, teoo máte (oh! Finow, am I to be killed?)" and retiring a few steps set his back against the fencing: Finow, who was several paces in advance, immediately made what was thought a feigned attempt to defend him, exclaiming "O iaooé seeoké gooa maté e tangáta! (alas! this noble man is killed!)" but he was held from his strong, yet pretended endeavour to run to his assistance, by some other attendants of Toobó Tóa, who came up and forced Finow into the fencing. (It must be recollected that Finow did not choose to bring his whaling knife with him.) Toobó Nuha, who was without any offensive weapon, as he had been without any suspicion, warded off several blows with his hands and arms; till both these being broken, he was unable to lift them up, when a blow from Toobó Tóa on the head made him stagger, another knocked him down, and he was beaten as long as signs of life remained, and for some time after. At this moment a young warrior, whose name was Latoo Ila, and whose father had been formerly killed, under strong suspicions of conspiracy by Toobó Nuha, came up to the spot, possessed by a spirit of implacable revenge. He struck the body of the dead chief several times, and exclaimed, "The time of vengeance is come! thou hast " been long enough the chief of Vavaoo, living " in ease and luxury; thou murderer of my " father! I would have declared my sentiments ' long ago, if I could have depended upon ' others to second me; not that I feared death ' by making thee my enemy, but the vengeance " of my chief, Toobó Tóa, was first to be satis- " fied, and it was a duty I owed the spirit of my " father to preserve my life as long as possible, " that I might have the satisfaction to see thee " thus lie stinking! (dead!)" he then repeated the blows several times upon his stomach.
On the first noise of the scuffle, Mr. Mariner imagining that Finow himself was attacked, attempted to rush forward, though unarmed, to his assistance, but was prevented by a strong man, who taking him round the body, pinioned his arms to his side. The women, on hearing the sound of the blows, and the exclamation of Toobó Nuha, ran screaming into the fencing. In about ten minutes after the affair, nearly two hundred of Finow's people assembled, armed with clubs and spears, to a party of whom, with a chief at their head, Finow gave orders to go immediately to Toobó Nuha's people, who were at their temporary houses on the shore, and command them, in his name, to go on board their respective canoes, except the principal Vavaoo chiefs, who were to come into his presence. These orders were scarcely given when one of the late chief's adopted sons, Hala Api Api, came before Finow, and striking his club against the ground, exclaimed " Why sit you there idle ?— why do you not " rouse yourself and your men, to revenge the " death of the fallen hero ? if it had been your " lot to have sunk thus beneath the clubs of " your enemies, would he have hesitated to "have sacrificed his life for your revenge? — " How great a chief he was ! how sadly has he " died !" Finow made no reply, and the young warrior retired a little, and sat down. The affection of the V avaoo people for their chief was great, but they thought the present a very disadvantageous opportunity of seeking revenge. They were in a part of the country where their enemies would be very numerous ; their canoes would perhaps be taken from them, and their retreat thus cut off— When they received Finow's orders, they immediately obeyed, the great body of them going into their respective canoes, and their chiefs coming into the king's presence.: where, when they arrived, they sat before him, their heads bowed down in dejection and utter sadness. — Finow, in his usual styl-e of artful eloquence, made them a speech, in which he positively declared his innocence of the murder, and his previous ^ - THE TONGA ISLANDS. J4 « ignorance of its being about to take place. He acknowledged, however, that Toobo Toa con- fided to him his intentions, and asked his as- sistance, which he promised : but that he had made this promise without meaning to fulfil it ; thinking by this method to satisfy for a time the urgent solicitations of that chief : lest, not having made it, he should undertake the rash act before proper measures could be adopted to prevent it. While he was yet speaking, his own wives and women, having been sent for, came and sat down behind him. His speech being ended, half an hour's silence ensued ; nobody daring to deliver his sentiments. The company then rose, by Finow's order, and followed him to his house. As he passed the body, he ordered it to be lifted up and carried before him. Wlien the procession arrived, the body was laid down on the outside of the house, and washed all over with a mixture of oil and water (as is always customary.) This office was per- formed by one of Finow's wives and Mr. Mari- ner ; nobody else offering to do it, on account of their objections to being tabooed*, Finow's
- No person can touch a dead chief without being tnboo'd
for ten lunar months, except chiefs, who are only tabooed for three, four, or five months, according to the superiority of the dead chief ) except again it be the body of TooitoDga, and then even the greatest chief woiihl be tahno'd ten wife did not mind it, because she was ah-eady tahoo'd from having touched the dead body of the late Tooitonga nine months before, and had consequently got accustomed to the inconve- niences of it ; and Mr. Mariner did not hesitate to do this last office to his friend, because he had no superstitious fears of the consequences of not submitting to the taboo. The body, be- ing washed, was brought into the house, laid on a large bale of gnatoo, and anointed with sandal wood oil. Toobo Nuha's widows (four in number) now came in to mourn over the dead body of their departed chief. They en^ tered beating their breasts and faces, and screaming with all the agony and frantic agita- tions of mad women. They sat down close round the corpse, and in a most dismal strain began singing months, as was the case with Finow's wife above mention- ed. During the time a man is taboo" d he must not feed him- self with his own hands, but must be fed by somebody else : he must not even use a toothpick himself, but must guide another person's hand holding the toothpick. If he is hun- gry and there is no one to feed him, he must go down upon his hands and knees, and pick up his victuals Avith his mouth : and if he infringes upon any of these rules, it is firmly expected that he will swell up and die : and this be- lief is so strong that Mr. Mariner thinks no native ever made an experiment to prove the contrary. They often saw him feed himself with his liands after having touched dead chiefs, and not observing his health to decline, they attributed it to liis being a foreigner, and being governed by different Gods. THE TONGA ISLANDS. 143 O iaooc ! seooke ! O iaooe ! gooa mdte e, O iaooe ! gooa te ofa 6. O iaooe ! go6a te tangi e. O iaoo6 ! m6wm6w c. Alas ! woe is me ! Alas ! he is dead ! Alas ! how I respect him ! Alas ! how I lament his loss ! » Alas ! here are his ruins ! These verses were repeated over and over again, without any order, during the whole night; the mourners frequently beating their breasts and faces, and now and then making exclamations regarding themselves, as to what would become of them now they had lost their great chief and protector, and with him all their happiness and comfort. The house was lighted up by lamps with cocoa-nut oil. AJbout one hundred and fifty persons were present, among whom were Finow and Mr. Mariner ; both of whom staid the whole night. Finow's wives retired to rest. Mr. Mariner deeply felt on his mind the depressing influence of these sorrowful lamentations. The poor unfortunate women at intervals only sobbed and mourned for a time, then broke out loudly as before ; till by degrees, the voice growing weak, sunk into a hoarse murmur ; as if all the powers of the soul were fast declining under a weight of anguish, never to rise again; then a heart- rending exclamation of sorrow from one spread its contagion to all the rest ; and thus was the whole night spent in lamentations for the death of a good and great man ; who, as far as hu- man judgment can determine, was unjustly accused, and undeservedly sacrificed. During all this time, the chiefs and warriors of the king kept themselves on the alarm, ex- pecting every moment a revolt from the people of Toobo Nuha. Every thing, however, re- mained quiet. The following morning Finow issued orders for the body to be carried on board a canoe along with him, to proceed to the island of Wiha ; this was accordingly done, and they set sail, sixty or seventy other canoes following, with the Vavaoo people, and several of the king's warriors. When they arrived at Wiha, a grave was opened for Toobo Nuha in the ^^oc<2 * of his ancestors, wherein his body was deposited in the presence of all who came in the canoes, besides a considerable number of the natives of the island f .
- Fytoca, a burying-place, including the grave, the
mount in which it is sunk, and a sort of shed over it. The grave of a chief s family is a vault, lined at the bottom with' one large stone, one at each side, and one at the foot and head, and is about eight feet long, six feet broad, and eight feet deep, covered at the top with one large stone. t ThjB ceremony of this burial is omitted, as being similar THE TONGA ISLANDS. 145 As soon as the corpse was let down into the grave, one of those who had assassinated liim, Chioolooa, a great warrior and a powerful man, advanced forward into the middle of the circle, brandishing his club, and addressed the Vavaoo people to the following effect: *' If there be " any among you harbouring secret thoughts " of revenge, keep them no longer buried in " your bosom, meditating plans of future insur-
- ' rection, but come now forth and fight me on
- ' the spot, for by sacrificing me, you will re-
- -venge his death : I am the man who acted a
- ' principal part in his death ; come on, then,
" one and all, and wreak your vengeance on my head !" — Nobody, however, accepted this challenge ; not but there were many Vavaoo chiefs who would willingly have done it, had they not thought better to reserve themselves, to effect a future and more signal vengeance. The stone was now put over the grave, and the company dispersed. During the whole of this time, in conse- quence of Finow's orders, every circumstance was attended to that might prevent an insur- rection on the part of the Vavaoo warriors. The four carronades which Finow had brought with him were drawn up before the fencing in to, though not quite so formal, as what will be described hereafter on the occasion of Finow's death. VOL. I. T which he meant to reside during his stay : the Vavaoo people were forbidden to carry any offensive weapons, whilst those of Hapai were ordered to be under arms, and to keep them- selves on the alert. Two or three days after this funeral cere- mony, the king summoned a private meeting in his presence of the chiefs of Hapai, and those of Vavaoo, when the latter swore allegiance to Finow with their hands placed upon a conse- crated bowl *, whilst cava was being mixed in it, invoking the god, Tooi fooa Bolotoo, to whom the bowl was consecrated, and praying him to punish them with untimely death if they should afterwards break their vow, or har- bour any thoughts to that intent. The cava was then shared out, and the king informed the Vavaoo chiefs, that thenceforth they were to consider Toe Oomoo, (his aunt), as their law- ful chief, and to pay respect to her as such, at her cava ceremonies: they accordingly pro- mised all due submission and obedience to their newly appointed chief ; after which the
- The bowl is held consecrated because it is kept on pur-
pose to make cava in, for the ceremonies of that god only (Tooi fooa Bolotoo), being used on no other occasion. If a great chief takes an oath, he swears by the god, (laying his hand upon the consecrated bowl) ; if an inferior chief takes an oath, he swears by his superior relation, who, of. course, is a greater chief, and lays his hand upon his feet. THE TONGA ISLANDS. 147 assembly rose up, and dispersed to their re- spective houses. The following day, Finow, and all that had come to this island with him, went on board their canoes, and returned back to Lefooga, and, shortly after, all the Vavaoo people, ex- cept the greater part of the matabooles * of the late Toobo Nuha, who were detained by Finow, pursued their course to Vavaoo. About a fortnight after their departure, there arrived a canoe from Vavaoo with a mataboole, and thirty or forty men, who were well affected towards Finow. They brought the unexpected information, that the people of that island, at the instigation, and under the guidance of their chief. Toe Oomoo (Finow's aunt), had come to the resolution of freeing themselves from the dominion of the king, and of erecting them- selves into a separate nation. Toe Oomoo, it seems, had made a speech to her chiefs, in which she declared, that she found it expe- dient to shake off the yoke of Finow ; for, al- though she was his aunt, she could not but re- member with gratitude the obligations she laid under to Toobo Nuha, and the respect that
- He retained the matabooles of the late chief, lest by
their counsel and advice the Vavaoo people should be urged i<) rebellion: the matabooles have always great influence Avitli t!ie chiefs. was due to his meliiory : Toob6 Nuba, she Said, had been her particular friend, and slie was determined to act in a manner worthy the honour of so great a man's friendship. She then appealed to her chiefs and mataboolesy demanding of them their opinion, and whether they also did not tliink it expedient to free themselves from the dominion of Finow. Here a consultation began, which was kept up a considerable time, without coming to any de- termination, some arguing rather in favour of Finow's conduct, others rather against it ; till, at length, an old woman (sister to Toe Oomoo)j rushed into the middle of the assembly, armed with a club and spear, and brandishing them in the air, demanded, with a loud voice, why they hesitated so long in an affair, in which honour clearly pointed out the only proper path to pursue "but," she added, *' if the men are " turned women, the women shall turn men, " and revenge the death of their murdered " chief; let, then, the men stand idly looking
- on, and when we are sacrificed in the glo-
" rious cause, the example may, perhaps, excite them to fight and die in the same spirited " endeavour to support and defend their
- ' rights." The warlike declaration of this
heroine roused the chiefs into a state of ac- tivity, and they speedily came to a resolution to THE TONGA ISLANDS. 149 build a large and strong fortress, and to put themselves in a state of defence against any in. cursions that Finow might make upon them, or, rather, which Toobo Toa might urge him to make. The proposed fortress was to be the largest tliat ever was known in the Tonga islands, to be, in short, a fortified town, capable of holding all the inhabitants of Vavaoo (about 8000 in number), with their houses and burying-places, to be built round the Mooa*, and constructed, as usual, of reed fencings, much on the same plan as that of Nioocalofa, formerly described, but to be surrounded by a deep and firm-set bank of solid clay, about twelve feet high, with a ditch on the inner side of it, from which the clay would be furnished, and thus be proof against the guns : within this ditch, and next the fencing, was to be another bank of clay, smaller than the other. ^The whole of the ma- terials of the fencing was to be proportionably strong and good. v Among a great deal of information which the old mataboole communicated, was that respect- ing the bravado of a Vavaoo warrior, who de- clared his utter contempt of the guns. It is customary for eveiy professed warrior, before
- The chiefs' houses are generally situated together^ and
this place is called the Mooa, the metropolis of the island. he goes to battle, or expects the coming of an enemy, to give himself the name of some one particular person, whom he means to single out and fight. This warrior, however, instead of assuming the name of one of the enemy, proudly called himself Fanna Fonnooa (a great gun), declaring that he would run boldly up to a cannon and throw his spear into the mouth of it. When Finow was informed of these proceed- ings of the Vavaoo people, he immediately re- solved to make a descent upon them with a powerful force, and reduce them into subjection before they could have completed their de- signs : but the priests dissuaded him from this hasty project, and proposed, that it would be much more acceptable to the gods to make, in the first place, an offer of reconciliation. The king, however, had not much respect for the priests, and though he sometimes conformed with their advice, it was generally because it tallied with his own opinion, or he did it for the mere outside shew of veneration for the gods : his want of religion was, indeed, almost proverbial, and, on this account, the people often wondered that he was so successful in war. In this particular instance he was so ex- asperated at the conduct of his aunt, that not the persuasion of the priests, nor the admoniTHE TONGA ISLANDS. 151 tions of the gods, could prevent him turning his immediate attention to the necessary pre- parations for a speedy attack on Vavaoo. In- termediate and unexpected events, however, put a stop, for a time, to these preparations. At this period, there arrived from Hamoa (the Navigator's islands), Finow's son and heir, Moegnagnongo, after an absence of five years with him came ^mother great chief, whose name was Voona, and who had formerly been chief of Vavaoo ; they and their retinue had sailed from Hamoa in six canoes, one of which, containing sixty persons, and all Moegnagnon- go's treasures, was lost in a gale of wind. In their way they had touched at Vavaoo, not knowing the political situation of the island, and were very near being forcibly detained ; but, observing something suspicious in the conduct of the people, they put off to sea again, and thus made their escape in time. Their arrival at Lefooga occasioned great feasting and rejoicing, which lasted many days, and served to divert the king from his imme- diate warlike projects. Two daughters of chiefs had, for several years, been kept apart, and reserved to be the wives of the young prince (as we shall beg leave to call him, to avoid the frequent repe- tition of his uncouth name), as soon as he should return from Hamoa. He had, indeed, brought two wives with him, natives of that place, but, finding that his friends at home had not been unmindful of him in this particular, he resolved to marry these young maidens also : and partly to please his own humour, and partly to afford a little amusement to the Ha- pai people, he resolved, also, that the cere- mony should be performed, for the most part, after the manner of the Navigator's islands. On the morning of the day of marriage, )vhich was about a week after the arrival of the prince, most of the lower class of the people were employed in bringing from different parts of the island, yams, ripe plantains, and ba- nanas; cocoa-nuts, bread fruit, fish, and cakes*. These were piled up on the maldi in four large heaps, with a baked pig on the top of each. The people assembled on the spot, dressed up in new garments, ornamented with wreaths of flowers, and with red ribbands made of the fine membrane of the leaf of the lo ac6xi much re- sembling silk : their persons were anointed with sweet-scented oil. The spectators seated themselves in two sections of a circle, one be- ginning from the right, the other from the left
- These cakes are made of flour prepared from the Ma~
hod root (see the vocabulary), mixed up with scraped cocoa- nut into a paste, and baked. They are considered a luxury. THE TONGA ISLANDS. 153 liand of Finow and his matabooles ; at their ter- minations stood the Hapai people on the one side, and the new-comers (most of them Hapai people also), on the other, so as to be opposite to each other, both parties being furnished with clubs made of the green branches of the cocoa? nut tree. The prince, who was also armed with a club, stood up among his Hamoa com- panions. The two brides were now conducted by their female attendants from the house of Tinow (near the malai). They were dressed in the finest Hamoa mats *, but not in such profusion as described in Tooitonga's marriage, and were veiled in the finest gnatoo. They were led into the house on the mallii, and seated on bales also of the finest gnatoo. Here their feet, hands, faces, and breasts, were anointed with a mixture of sandal-wood oil, and the purest turmeric, producing a deep orange tint on their skins. They remained seated in this place, to be spectators of the combat that was about to ensue between the inhabitants of Hapai and their friends from Hamoa. The two parties being ready, the challenges
- These mats are made entirely by handj and when very
fine and large, occupy two years making ; this renders them exceedingly valuable. They are so exquisitely raanufac- turedj that one would suppose them to be woven by a loom. were given in the following way: a man from one side runs over to the opposite party and sits down before it; he then makes a sign to know if any one will engage with him: the person who chooses to accept the challenge comes forward brandishing his club, when the two combatants proceed to the middle of the circle, each attended by one from his own party to assist as second. They next determine whether they shall fight after the Tonga or Hamoa fashion ; the difference of which is, that the Hamoa custom allows a man to beat his antagonist after he is knocked down, as long as he perceives signs of motion: the Tonga mode, on the contrary, only allows him to flourish his club over his fallen foe, and the fight is at an end. This point being agreed on, the two champions for .the applause of the multitude begin to engage. When they have finished, another party comes on in the same way. Sometimes there are three or four sets of combatants engaged at the same time. When a man gains a victory, his own party gives a shout of approbation, wo wo, a ma to,i oi, i, oi[2] THE TONGA ISLANDS. 155 the champion then advances . towards the chief who presides at the head of the circle (in this instance the king), sits down before him, out of respect, then rises immediately, and returns to his own party. Such was the mode in which these club- fights were conducted : the prince engagfed in several of them, and performed great feats of bravery: he fought no less than fourteen or fifteen battles, and always came off victorious. The fighting with clubs being over, at a sig- nal from Finow, the boxing and wrestling matches commenced. As their performances in these ways have been so accurately de- scribed by Captain Cook, it would be unneces- sary to enter here into a detail. These feats being concluded, the prince and his chiefs retired to the neighbouring houses to dress their heads with a sort of turban, made of white gnatoo, ornamented with small red feathers. Thus equipped, they returned to the maldif when the chiefs sat down again among their own party, and the prince went up to his two brides, who were still sitting in the house, raised them up, one by each hand, and led them forth upon the maldi amid the acclamations of N, B. when an e occurs in the Tonga language, it must be pronounced like a in date, late, &c. For farther particulars on the subject of pronunciation, see the grammar. the people, who clapped their hands, whilst the matabooles exclaimed malie ! malie! (well done! well done!). The young chiefs and their com- panions from Hamoa, sung the following song, beating time with their hands: it is in the lan- guage of the Navigator's islands, and Mr. Ma- riner does not understand the meaning of it; he was so much in the habit of hearing the Tonga people sing in that language, which they affect to admire, though very few understand what they sing, that he neglected to enquire the meaning of this song ; but the words, or ra- ther the syllables, (for it is hard to say whether they are divided quite right), he remembers perfectly well, as many of the people went about all the following night singing it, accords ing to the custom at Hamoa: the song is as follows : Lafe lafe e, lafe lafe e, Lafe lafe 6 chinilau } Chi a my ta to. ()6a lao fia tala ou. Moegnagnongo e, Moegnagnongo e ; TcK^bo mo Lak^pa e, Toobo mo Lakepa 6. Toobo Mo Lakepa was the name of one of the brides, who was a personage of greater rank than the other. While this singing and these acclamations were going forward, the prince led his brides THE TONGA ISLANDS. 157 to the bottom of the mallii with a slow and dig- nified step, and then returned, amid the same acclamations, into the house, and re-seated them upon the bales of gnatoo; after which he com- menced a dance on 'the malai with the young cliiefs, who had put on turbans. This dance was also after the manner of the Navigator's islands, and seemed to afford the people much entertainment: in Mr. Mariner's opinion, there, was not so great an exhibition of agility as in their own dances, but equally as much grace, and somewhat more attitude. In the mean time the brides were conducted to the residence of the bridegroom. The dance being con- cluded, the provisions were shared out: the two larger portions were allotted, by Finow's orders, to the new comers, (to be disposed of afterwards as they thought proper) : the next largest was shared out to all foreigners, viz. na- tives of Fiji, Hamoa, the island of Fotoona, &c. ; and the remaining heap, at an appointed signal, was scrambled for by all who chose to try their speed and dexterity. This last scene afforded great diversion to all the spectators. The baked pig on the top of the heap was soon brought down, and pulled about in a most mi- serable way ; being torn piece-meal, and so co- vered with sand and dirt as to be quite uneat- able. The ceremony was now concluded by a general boxing-match ; the men from the north of the island combating those from the south ; till at length the men of the north drove their opponents entirely off the ground. On occa- sions of such fights the combatants are allowed to wear turbans, to resemble more nearly a real fight. It must here be observed that turbans are not allowed to be worn but in time of war, and then only by those who are going to battle, unless on occasions of formal rejoicings like the present, or at night-time by chiefs and mata- booles, or by the common people when at work in the fields or in canoes. On all other occa- sions, to wear ahead-dress would be disrespect- ful ; for although no chief be present, yet some god may be at hand unseen. This custom is k:ept up with such strictness, that if a man were to wear a head-dress on other occasions, he would be sure to be knocked down by the first person he met who was a superior, and even, perhaps, if he were an equal. On occasions, when a turban is allowed to be worn, it must be removed from the head when a superior hap- pens to approach (unless in time of actual bat- tle) ; but it is usual for the superior to say to one who is not much inferior, " toogoo ho fow,^' keep on your fozv^ — as we would say, keep on your hat, — which compliment is generally ac- cepted. The king used frequently to tell Mr. THE TONGA ISLANDS. 159 Mariner, that if he ever rnet any common fel- low with his head covered, he should immedi- ately knock him down. He was, however, al- lowed, like other foreigners, to wear a head- dress without any restriction, as being supposed to be governed by different gods, and accus- tomed to different manners. But to return to our subject : it may be no- ticed that the form of the prince's marriage as here related, and which, for the most part, was according to the Hamoa custom, was not very different from that of the Tonga islands ; but two parts of the Hamoa ceremony were in this instance left out, viz. the payment of some- thing valuable to the brides' fathers by the bridegroom, such as bales of gnatoo, beads, &c. the brides being virgins : the other part of the ceremony, which in fact was to ascertaiu whether such payment was justly due, should have been performed by the bridegroom (digito admoto) when he had led his brides back into the house, and re-seated them on the bales of gnatoo: but the circumstance alluded to, not being thought by the natives of the Tonga islands consistent with delicacy, was accord- ingly omitted. In the evening of the same day, the large house on the malai was lighted up with flam- beaus. Singers and dancers of Hapai assembled, and waited the arrival of the prince and his Hamoa friends. In a short time they came with presents of fine mats, dried cava root, &c. (the cava root of the Navigator's islands is greatly esteemed). These they laid down at the feet of Finow and his wife, Toobo ve Holla, who were seated opposite the entrance. Her majesty returned the compliment by presenting them with three or four English wine-bottles, an hour-glass, without either sand or stand, and some pieces of iron hoop, made sharp in the form of chisels ; which having received, they retired and seated themselves on one side, op- posite the party of Hapai singers. These latter now began a vocal concert, in the language and after the manner of the Hamoa islands. When they had finished, those from Hamoa sung, and so on alternately during four or five hours, after which the company broke up. The brides were not present at this concert ; and" the bride- groom, not finding himself much interested in it, soon gave them the slip. This ceremony, and these rejoicings, being Over, Finow again began to turn his attention towards Vavaoo. In the first place he dis- patched canoes to the diflferent Hapai islands, with orders to each, that all the male inhabit- ants (excepting two of the oldest for each plantation, to keep them clear of weeds, &c.. the yams being all planted,) should assemble within ten days at Lefooga, armed with clubs and spears, and supplied with a good store of provisions. Being all arrived within the time proposed, Finow issued orders to all his forces to prepare for a review. On the appointed day they assembled on a malái, to the amount of about six thousand; all armed, and painted, and dressed according to some warlike fancy. Finow then delivered a speech, in which he declared his opinion that the Tonga mode of warfare had, hitherto, been upon a very bad principle; and that instead of running forwards and then retreating, accordingly as they met with advantages or disadvantages, they ought rather to remain together in a body, and not to retreat on every trifling occasion, but to push forward with the most determined courage, and thus dash terror into the minds of their enemies; or by standing their ground with unconquerable steadiness, to strike them with astonishment at their fortitude and strength: for such he had heard was the way of fighting in England, (meaning Europe at large,) and it claimed his highest admiration:"and," he added, "if any man sees the point of a spear advancing upon his breast, he is not to run back like a coward, but push forward upon it, and at the risk of his life, deal destruction on "his foe." This last sentence he bellowed forth in a tone and loudness of voice that made every one tremble, for in this particular he was very remarkable ; when powerfully and passion- ately excited, the sound of his voice was like the roaring of a wild beast, and might be heard at an incredible distance. Having finished his speech, several of his warriors ran up to him, striking their clubs furiously on the ground, bidding him not to be afraid of his enemies, for that, comparatively speaking, there were no real warriors in Vavaoo : and that they would stand by him to the very last. The king then addressed them again, describing, in a more particular manner, how they were to proceed in their encounter Mdth the enemy, on the approach of whom they were all to sit down on the ground, and remain per- fectly still, as if unconcerned in what was going forward ; and even though the enemy were to throw spears and discharge arrows, they were nevertheless to remain motionless till they re- ceived orders to rise and rush upon them in a body; this they were to do with ardour and im- petuosity ; and he was quite certain, he said, that such a sudden and bold attack would put them completely to the rout. He then made them practise this manoeuvre several times. Lastly, he spirited them up with thoughts of THE TONGA ISLANDS. 163 gloiy and honour, telling them at the same time, that death was a thing to be despised, — not to be feared by a brave man, whose name would still live with a lasting life, when his body was buried in the dust. He then dis-r missed them, with orders that those belonging to the northern islands might immediately re- turn home, but were shortly to proceed to Haano, the northernmost island of all the Ha- pais, and there to wait the arrival of him and all his southern forces on their way to Vavaoo. About this time a circumstance happened, which deserves in a particular manner to be re- corded, because it evinces a disposition in the natives to act with more justice, mercy, and discrimination, than what one might otherwise be tempted to expect. Two boys, about four- teen years of age, viz. Thomas Eversfield, an Englishman, and John Roberts, a black native of Tortola, (both belonging to the Port au Prince,) were detected stealing a bale of gnatoo from a consecrated house. If they had been natives, they would instantly have been pu- nished with death : but the chiefs and mata- booles took the matter into consideration, and resolved, that, as they were foreigners, and so young and thoughtless, the offence, this time, should be overlooked. Nevertheless, to ap- pease the anger of the god, to whom the house was consecrated, it was thought necessary to address him humbly upon the subject. Ac- cordingly, his priest, followed by chiefs and matabooles, dressed in mats, with leaves of the IJi tree round their necks, in token of humility and sorrow, went in solemn procession to the house : they sat down before it, and the priest addressed the divinity to the following purpose : " Here you see the chiefs and matabooles that " have come to thee, hoping that thou wilt be " merciful : the boys are young, and being fo- " reigners, are not so well acquainted with our customs, and did not reflect upon the.great- " ness of the crime : we pray thee, therefore, " not to punish the people for the sins of these " thoughtless youths : we have spared them, " and hope that thou wilt be merciful and spare
- us." — The priest then rose up, and they all
retired in the same way they came. — The chiefs, • and particularly Finow, most severely repri- manded the boys, and endeavoured strongly to impress upon their minds the enormity of the offence, and that they owed their lives solely to their presumed ignorance of the extent of the crime. — They were both of them heartily frightened. A few days after the review a canoe arrived from Vavaoo, with a few Hapai people, who were suffered to leave that island at their parTHE TONGA ISLANDS, ticular request. They brought intelligence that it was not the wish of Toe Oomoo and her chiefs to be at war with Hapai, but that they considered it a duty they owed to themselves to act with strong measures in regard to Finow, whom they esteemed of so treacherous a cha- racter, that a peace with him now would only be the forerunner of disaster and inglorious death to themselves, and on this account, they chose rather to meet their fate in the field, than to live an idle and peaceful life for a short time, and at length be cruelly murdered to satisfy his revenge. — They moreover stated that it was the determination of the Vavaoo warriors to rush out suddenly upon the white men, and take possession of the guns. A few days afterwards, all affairs being set- tled in regard to the management of the planta- tions, the canoes were refitted and launched, and early in the morning the king, and all the forces with him, (about 4000 strong) proceeded to Haano, about three leagues to the north, to join those who, according to orders, were wait- ing for them. At Haano, the king was re- ceived with customary feasting and rejoicing, and on the following day the gods were con- sulted in regard to the expedition. The answer was similar to the admonition formerly given, viz. that the king should first proceed to Vavaoo with three canoes only, with such men as had few or no relations at Vavaoo (lest they shoiild be tempted to desert), but above all with such also as had not been instrumental in the assassination of Toobo Nuha, nor had been for- merly his adherents, lest their presence might excite still farther the anger of the Vavaoo people; and, thus accompanied, should offer terms of peace in the most friendly manner. Finow, having by this time had sufficient op- portunity to reflect coolly and deliberately, and therefore more wisely, upon th^s business, en- tered readily into the measure. Three canoes were got ready, and Finow, with some of the choicest fighting men, of such description as the oracle approved of, went on board : Mr. Mariner was in the king's canoe, and two other Englishmen were on board one of the others, and they proceeded towards Vavaoo. As they approached the shores of this island they came up with several canoes belonging to it, endeavouring to make their escape, for they fancied these were only, the head canoes of a large fleet drawing near to make an attack upon Vavaoo. The king, however, informed them that he was not coming with warlike intentions, but that his object was peace, and he was paying them a visit for the sole purpose of adjusting matters amicably ; he then disTHE TONGA ISLANDS. 167 missed them, and they paddled away imme- diately for that part of the island where the o-reat fortress was situated. As the expedi- tion passed a point about five miles to the southward of the fort, a number of natives were seen on the beach, painted and dressed after the manner of war, and armed with clubs and spears ; they menaced the visitors with every martial gesture, furiously splashing up the water with their clubs, and shouting the war-whoop loudly and repeatedly. When they had proceeded a little farther, there came up to them a canoe from the garrison, with a war- rior named Ta e Tangata : he wore a turban * on his head, and stated that he came, with leave from Toe Oomoo, to enquire if any of Toobo Nuha's murderers were on board, for he was ready, he said, to fight them, and lay down his life in honour of that great and match- less chief. Finow, in answer, told him the pur- pose of his coming, and that there were none of Toobo Nuha's murderers on board, and as to himself, he was perfectly well disposed to make a peace, and, whatever his enemies
- It will be recollected, that turbans are only worn by day-
time, when within sight of an enemy, &c. see p. 158. This man, therefore, came as an enemy. This head-dress may be considered a signal of defiance, or, at best, of independence and equality. might think of him, that was the object which was nearest his heart. No sooner did the Va- vaoo warrior hear this unexpected declaration, than he pulled off his turban, and taking a piece of cava root, went on board Finow's ca- noe, and, having presented the cava to the king, he kissed his feet as a mark of respect. The king then dismissed him, desiring him to relate to -his chiefs the object of his coming, and that he should the same evening, if they would permit him, pass on to Neafoo *, to leave cava there, and the following morning proceed to the fortress, to adjust terms of peace. As soon as the warrior departed with his message, Finow directed his course up an inlet to Nea- foo, where he arrived and landed without any opposition, and, having left cava with the usual ceremony (see p. 89), he returned on board, and passed the night in another brancli of the inlet leading up to the fortress ; towards which, early the following morning, he proceeded with the three canoes. At first, he intended to land in person, and ascend the hill to address the garrison ; but from this he was dissuaded by his chiefs : he then determined to go near to ♦ Neafoo is situated on the N. E. shore of Vavaoo, and is a consecrated place, like Mafanga, formerly described, where the ceremony of Tooge was performed. At Neafoo are se- veral houses consecrated to different gods. THE TONGA ISLANDS. 169 the shore in a small canoe which they had in ■tow, and be led along the shelf by his mata- booles, wading through the water, which was scarcely three feet deep ; to this also his friends objected, being apprehensive that, if he left the large canoe in the way he proposed, and ap- proached too near the beach, his temper might be so worked into a rage by the insults of the natives, as to induce him to rush on shore, and run the risk of being killed ; but Finow re- plied, by way of apology for not yielding to their advice, that it was the part of a brave man to keep himself perfectly cool and collected when insulted, and that he was resolved to act up to this character. Matters being thus ar- ranged, he went into the small canoe, and was led along by the matabooles. As they drew near to the shore, many of the natives called out to them, saying a number of things in deri- sion : one threw them a piece of yam, another a piece of pork, telling them it was to be the last they should get from Vavaoo*; then they enquired whether they were not quite tired of living upon the scanty allowance of the Hapai
- Vavaoo is famous for good yair.s, and great quantities
of hogs, as well as for gnatoo of a finer quality, and better printed ; the tree, from which the printing colour is pro- cured, being very scarce, and very inferior^ at the Hapai islands. islands : they next threw them a piece of gna- too, advising them, in the most friendly man- ner, to wear that instead of scrubbing their skins with the coarse mats of Hapai ; and, as this was all they meant to give them, they were to tear it in small pieces, divide it among them, and each wear a rag. During all these insults, the king, contrary to the expectation of every one (for he was of a very irritable temper), kept himself perfectly cool, and said nothing. When he had arrived near enough to address them conveniently, he made a speech of about an hour's length, in which, with a wonderful degree of art and eloquence, he endeavoured to persuade them that he was perfectly inno- cent of the death of Toobo Nuha ; and that he should be exceedingly sorry if their mistaken notions of his sentiments and conduct should occasion a war with Vavaoo : he told them how much he loved and respected his aunt (Toe Oomoo), and how unhappy he should be, if the late unfortunate affair, which he could neither well foresee nor help, should occasion a quarrel with her : nothing grieved him more, he said, than that his best intentions should be thus re- garded with suspicion, but he hoped that their candour and liberality, upon a little cool re- flection, would lead them to place that con- fidence in him, which his own consciousness of THE TONGA ISLANDS. 171 upright intentions gave him reason to expect, ancfhe trusted that they would submit to his rule and government as formerly. To this, some of the Vavaoo chiefs replied, that they should be willing enough to acknowledge him king, as formerly, provided he would reside al- together at Vavaoo, and interdict all communi- cation with the Hapai people, among whom there were many designing chiefs, of whose treacherous policy they had good reason to be afraid : or, if he did not choose to remain alto- gether at Vavaoo, he might reside at Hapai, and they would send him annual tribute, as usual, upon condition that neither he, nor his chiefs, nor any of the people of Hapai, would visit Vavaoo under any pretext whatsoever ; for, as they were quite tired of disturbances and in- • surrections, they heartily wished to keep away all who were promoters of discord, all ambi- tious and discontented chiefs; all, in short, whose tempers were too fickle to love a peace- ful and quiet life : and, as to the large fortress, they declared it had been constructed merely for the purpose of self defence. Finow then took up the discourse, stating, that he could not give his consent to terms which were in- consistent with his dignity, as supreme governor both of Hapai and Vavaoo,"" and that it was ex- ceedingly hard he should suffer for the rashness and impolicy of others, and that they should cease to put that confidence in his wisdom and justice which he hoped he had always merited. He then repeated the arguments in favour of his innocence, and, in conclusion, urged a proof of his love and affection for the people of Va- vaoo, by reminding them of the readiness with which he formerly joined their late beloved chief, in the assassination of Toogoo Ahoo, and, by this means, freed Vavaoo and all the Tonga islands of a tyrant ; and of the ardour with which he fought in alliance with that great hero, in the memorable battle of Tonga ; and, although afterwards they (the Vavaoo people) opposed (from a mistaken notion) his progress in the same good cause, yet how happy they had been since their submission to him, and had received from his authority a good and wise chief (Toob6 Nuha), and now that this great man had fallen a sacrifice to the ambition or malice of others, was it on that account that they ought to forego their reliance on the love and affection which he had hitherto so conspi- cuously shewn them ? *' But, as you seem
- ' disposed," said he, *' to live in idleness and
'* luxury, I will go and reside among a more " manly people, and prosecute war against the " island of Tonga." In reply to all this, they again assured him of their love and respect THE TONGA ISLANDS. for him as an individual, but, as they were de- termined to live free, they would neither pro- pose nor accept of any other terms. The king then ordered his matabooles to conduct him to his canoe, and, turning towards the Vavaoo people, said, " Live, then, among yourselves " in idleness, and we will return to Hapai.'* During the time that Finow was addressing the Vavaoo people, the matabooles and war- riors that surrounded his canoe (among whom was Mr. Mariner) appeared much moved, and several shed tears, for his powers of persuasion were such, that, in defending his own cause, he seemed to be the most worthy, the most in- nocent, and the most unjustly used: on this account the greater chiefs and old matabooles of Vavaoo remained in the fortress, fearing to listen to his arguments, lest, being drawn aside by the power of his eloquence, they might mis- take that for true which was not, and even lead the young and ardent warriors into an error, by persuading them that what he said was rea- sonable and just. The fortress, on the top of a steep rising ground, as seen from the canoes, presented a most formidable and warlike appearance : its extent seemed enormous, and the tops of the white reeds, which were seen at a distance above the banks of red clay, the whole being strongly illuminated by the sun, represented to the imagination of Mr. Mariner the spears and javelins of ancient heroes, drawn up in battle array. On the top of the banks a number of warriors, armed with clubs and spears, were running to and fro, with fine light streamers,[3] full thirteen feet long, attached to their heads and arms, which, floating in the wind, produced a most romantic effect.
The king and his matabooles being now returned to their canoe, the expedition proceeded out of the inlet, and arrived shortly at a small island, on which they landed, and stripped it of almost all its cava root. It is here proper to mention, that all the islands adjacent to Vavaoo were deserted by order of Toe Oomoo, that the people might be more safely situated in or near the fortress, in case of an invasion. The three canoes afterwards proceeded a little farther onward, and put in for the night at a small island, called Hoonga, about two miles from Vavaoo. The next morning they resumed their voyage, and arrived at Haano, the nearest of the Hapai islands, in the afternoon.
- ↑ See note p. 72
- ↑ The words of this exclamation have, separately, no particular meaning : in respect to the pronunciation, the o in wo must be dwelt on at least five seconds ; the a is to be sounded as in ah! tar, &c.: the i as e in he, we, &c.: the whole is given in a sort of recitative, and very slowly.—
- ↑ These streamers consist of the fine membrane stripped off from the under side of the cocoa-nut leaf.