TONGA ISLAND. 129 



took place between five hundred of the latter, who had gone 

 out to work upon their yam-patches, and about an equal num- 

 ber of the heathen. These last out-numbered the Christians, 

 but the latter are assisted by Yaufahau, or King George of 

 Hapai and Vavao, who can bring in the field 800 fighting men. 



About 10 A. M., Captain Wilkes, accompanied by several 

 of the officers, left the ship to pay a visit to King Josiah, or 

 Tubau, who resides at Nookualofa, and is the king of the 

 Christian party. In the course of the afternoon another 

 double-canoe arrived, having one hundred of King George's 

 warriors on board. They were tall, fine-looking men, and all 

 ready for meeting the enemy ; some being armed with clubs, 

 some with spears, and others with muskets. They had their 

 faces painted in the most grotesque manner with yellow, red, 

 black and white stripes. I saw several with a red nose, 

 black cheeks, yellow chin, and green eyebrows. 



April 28th. To-day several of the chiefs of the heathen 

 party visited the ship. According to their statement the 

 Christians are entirely in the fault. They assert that they 

 did not commence the present war, but that they were forced 

 into it by the Christians, who seemed determined to exterminate 

 them unless they exchanged the belief of their fathers for that 

 of the new religion. They also complained that the Christians 

 endeavored to deprive them of their national amusements, by 

 prohibiting dancing and singing. 



In the afternoon I visited Nookualofa. It is pleasantly 

 situated, and contains from five to six hundred houses. It is 

 surrounded by an embankment composed of logs and earth, 

 on the top of which is a wicker-fence ; on the outside of the 

 intrenchment is a ditch about twelve feet wide by six feet 

 deep. There are three principal entrances, which are very 

 narrow and low, and have loop-holes on either side, through 



