A GLIMPSE OF TONGAN HISTORY. 295 



This mission-hating murderer was as fine a specimen of the 

 advanced anti-clerical party as I have ever heard of. 



In the days of heathen Tonga, great importance was 

 attached to the invocation of the gods and the inspiration of 

 the priests. The night previous to the consultation of the 

 oracle, the chief ordered his cooks to kill and prepare a hog, 

 and procure a basket of yams, and two bunches of ripe 

 plantains. These things being got ready, the next morning 

 they were earned to the place where the priest resided. The 

 chiefs and matalooles clothed themselves in mats, and repaired 

 to the place where the priest was to be found ; if at a house, 

 the priest seated himself just within the eaves (the Tongan 

 houses resemble the Samoan in being open all round, about 

 4 feet from the ground) : if at a distance from a dwelling, he 

 seated himself on any convenient spot of ground, with the 

 matalooles on either hand, so as to form a sort of a circle. In 

 this space, at the bottom of the circle, sat the man who pre- 

 pared the ka-va, the root being previously chewed by the cooks, 

 attendants, and others who sat behind him ; behind these again 

 sat the chiefs among the people. The chiefs occupied this re- 

 tired and humble station on account of the sacredness of the 

 occasion, conceiving that such modest demeanoiir must be 

 acceptable to the gods. 



As soon as they were all seated, the priest was considered 

 inspired, the god being supposed to exist within him, and 

 speak through him from that minute. He sat for a consider- 

 able time in silence, with his hands clasped before him ; his 

 eyes were cast down, and he remained perfectly still. During 

 the time that the victuals were being shared out, and the 

 Lam prepared, the matalooles sometimes used to begin to con- 

 sult him ; sometimes he would answer them, at other times 

 not. In any case, he used to remain with his eyes cast down. 



