Page:An account of the natives of the Tonga Islands.djvu/185

THE TONGA ISLANDS. down a mark or sign of something that had been seen both by the writer and reader, and which should be mutually understood by them : but Mr. Mariner immediately informed him, that he could write down any thing that he had never seen : the king directly whispered to him to put Toogoo Ahoo (the king of Tonga, whom he and Toobo Nuha had assassinated many years before Mr. Mariner's arrival). This was accordingly done, and the other read it ; when Finow was yet more astonished, and declared it to be the most wonderful thing he had ever heard of. He then desired him to write " Tar- kyV (the chief of the garrison of Bea, whom Mr. Mariner and his companions had not yet seen ; this chief was blind in one eye). When " Tarky " was read, Finow inquired whether he was blind or not ; this was putting writing to an unfair testl and Mr. Mariner told him that he had only written down the sign standing for the sound of his name, and not for the descrip- tion of liis person. He was then ordered in a whisper to write, " Tark^, blind in his left €i/e," which was done, and read by the other man to the increased astonishment of every body. Mr.. Mariner then told him that, in several parts of the world, messages were sent to great distances through the same medium, and, being folded and fastened up, the bearer