34 TONGA ISLAND. 



after sunset. The chiefs are occupied in making canoes and 

 implements of war ; the common people are chiefly employed 

 in the cultivation of the soil and in fishing ; and the women 

 are engaged in the manufacture of cloths and mats. It is a 

 common practice for parents to make a present of their 

 children to chiefs, or others, who adopt them as their own. 

 This custom gives the chiefs many adopted children, and 

 tends to increase their influence and power. After the child 

 is grown up, one-half of its earnings goes to its adopted 

 parent. Rank descends altogether by the female line — hence, 

 if a woman is noble, the children are also noble. No people 

 respect old age more than the Tongese. Every aged man and 

 woman employ the attention and services of the younger 

 classes of people. 



At Nookualofa, schools have been established ; houses for 

 stated religious worship erected ; a printing-press put into 

 operation, and books published in the native dialect ; and the 

 children are taught, both by the missionaries and native 

 teachers, reading, writing, and the elementary principles of 

 refined education. 



They barter their commodities chiefly for whale's teeth, 

 blue nankeen, tortoise-shell, glass beads, looking-glasses, cut- 

 lery and small axes. With the whales' teeth they decorate 

 their spears and clubs, and make neck and ear ornaments. 

 They are acquainted with the use of most of our tools, and 

 prefer them in the construction of their houses and canoes to 

 their own. For some years past considerable intercourse has 

 been maintained with the natives of the Fejee Islands, which 

 are situated about 350 miles from Nookualofa. The trade 

 with American and European vessels is, I understand, very 

 limited and precarious. 



