UPOLU. 79 



expiration of half-au-hour, the younger of tlie two yielded 

 the point, observing however, first, that ' the staff on which 

 he leant was known to all ; ' by which he meant, that in 

 surrendering his place he did not surrender his claim to it. 

 The other then addressed the assembly with great fluency, 

 eliciting applause or smiles as his argument was serious or 

 ironical, the audience occasionally expressing its approv^al 

 by words, ' malu, malu,' sweet or good, uttered in a sub- 

 dued tone. It would be a gross breach of order to walk 

 across the circle round which the chiefs are seated ; and 

 when occasionally, as Mr. Hood ' informs us, ' a white man, 

 looking upon himself as so far superior to the " savages," 

 that he may infringe all their rules, marches carelessly with 

 his pipe in his mouth in front of the speaker, the only 

 remark they make is, " Oh, poor white pig, he knows no 

 better." ' And there is good reason for their contempt, for, 

 as the same writer informs us, the Sanioans are a ' nation of 

 gentlemen, and contrast most favourably with the generality 

 of Europeans who come amongst them.' Take, as another 

 proof of this, the following testimony of Captain Erskine. 

 Speaking of Mumui and old Vacateuola, two chiefs of Tonga, 

 to whom he pays the compliment of saying that they 

 equalled in polish Samoan chiefs, and who, being his guests 

 at dinner, were dressed in a robe of flowing native cloth, 

 leaving neck and shoulders bare, he says, • their behaviour 

 at table was that of finished gentlemen.' In the evening, 

 being on deck listening to the drums and fifes, and the air 

 1 ' Cruise of the ' 'Fawn," ' pp. 49-60. 



