IXSULAR AUSTRALASIA. 1275 



which he named Amsterdam. He visited also the Haabai Group in the same year. 

 Captain Cook, however, was the first to give a detailed account of the islands. He 

 first visited them in October 1773, then in June 1774, and again in 1777, when he 

 remained about three months. The natives have no traditionary account of Tasman, but 

 Captain Cook's name is well known, and some relics of his expedition were long 

 preserved by the people. Between 1777 and 1791, the Group was visited by the 

 Princess, a Spanish frigate, and by the Pandora, the Bounty and the Providence, all British 

 ships. In 1792, Rear-Admiral d'Entrecasteaux called there with two French war-ships, 



NUKUALOFA, THE CAPITAL OF TONGA. 



the Recherche and the Espcrancc. These visitors had frequent quarrels with the natives, 

 when several of -the French were wounded and some of the Tongans were killed. The 

 history of the succeeding years, previous to the establishment of the Mission, is that of 

 the numerous outrages committed by these so-called Friendly Islanders upon some of 

 the many visitors to the Group. The most prominent cases are those given by Captain 

 Dillon, in his narrative of the discovery of the fate of La Perouse. Writing in 1827, 

 he mentions an attack on the Supply whaler, about 1822; the capture of the American 

 ship Duke of I } ortland, and the massacre of all on board with the exception of one 

 woman (Fnglish)and three boys; the murder of Captain Pembleton and Mr. Boston, the 

 commander and supercargo of the American ship ( 'nion : the capture of the Port-au-Prince 

 and the massacre of most of the crew, in 1806; and the fate of two whalers at Yavau. To 

 these may be added an affray in 1888 between the natives and the Dtunont d' Urville. 



The islands are very fertile, the soil being composed of rich black mould, consisting 

 chiefly of decomposed vegetable matter. The principal productions are yams, cocoa-nuts, 

 bananas, and sweet-potatoes. Taro requires wet land, and so but little can be grown 

 in Tonga. Arrowroot, cassava, turmeric, wild ginger, and other tropical plants are 

 plentiful, but are not much used by the natives. Coffee grows well, and is of very fine 

 flavour. The bread-fruit, papaw apple, Malay apple, custard apple, pine-apple, guava and 

 mango can . be grown in large quantities. Oranges and bananas are very fine and are 

 largely exported. Horses, cattle and sheep have been introduced, and thrive well. 



The political Constitution of Tonga in the olden days was that of a monarchical 



