THE FRIENDLY ISLANDS 497 



3. The Tonga or Friendly Islands. 



South-east of Fiji lie the Tonga or Friendly Islands, 

 which are divided into three groups — the Tongatabu, 

 ISTamuka, and Vavau — by two tolerably clear channels. 

 In all they comprise about a hundred islands and islets, 

 of which not more than ten can with justice be placed in 

 the former category. Tongatabu is considerably the 

 largest, being over 22 miles long. Vavau and Eua are 

 next in importance, and there are seven or eiglit others 

 not less than 5 miles in length. The rest are mere islets. 

 The group is surrounded by dangerous coral reefs, and 

 though the soil is very fertile there is a lack of flowing 

 streams. Most of the islands are low, and consist of 

 raised coral, but there are also a number of volcanic peaks 

 of some height, among which several are active. Kao 

 (5000 feet) has had more than one eruption in modern 

 times ; Tufoa, to the west of Hapai, is always smoking, 

 and a considerable eruption took place in 1885. Latte, 

 south-west of Vavau, is sub-active, as is Amargura to the 

 north-west, and there are several other extinct cones. 

 The last-named island was almost destroyed by a violent 

 eruption in August, 1847, the explosions of which were 

 audible 160 miles away. Ashes fell in large quantities 

 ■on ships 600 miles to the north-east. Previous to this 

 eruption the island was fertile and populous, but it is now 

 barren and treeless and without inhabitants. The people 

 escaped, warned by the violent earthquakes which pre- 

 ceded the eruption. 



The Tonga Islands were discovered by Tasman in 

 164.3, and were next visited by Cook in 1773, and again 

 in 1777, on which occasion he stayed three months. 

 The natives belong to the fair Polynesian race, and 



2 K 



