94 CRUISE OF THE 'CUEAQOA: 



curved ends iiud a higli-pitclied roof. It differs from them 

 in having two rows or orders of cokimns, every three of 

 the lower supporting a sliort beam, from which s^^rings 

 tlie second order, bearing the ridge-pole. This, as well as 

 all the horizontal beams, is most beautifully ornamented 

 with cocoa-nut plait, so arranged as to give the appearance 

 of Grecian or Italian mouldings, of infinite variety and 

 delicate gradations of colour, black, witli the different shades 

 of red and yellow, being those employed. Different com- 

 binations of interlacing diamonds or rectangular figures 

 formed the groundwork of these designs ; but the same one 

 was seldom twice repeated, and, the size of the pattern 

 being nicely proportioned to the distance from the spectator's 

 eyes, the effect was very artistic and pleasing.' The natives 

 w^ere busy, when I saw them, making ' for the love of God' 

 a handsome road round it. Tliere is, moreover, in the 

 village a house for the use of the council, a sort of town- 

 hall. 



Next day I went with some of the officers to the 

 govei'nor's, hoping to find horses on which we coidd make 

 an excursion into the interior. This personage, David 

 Unga, is, as I have said, son of King George, sovereign of 

 the Friendly Islands, which comprise the Ilaafuluhao 

 Islands (improperly called the Vavau group), tlie Hapai 

 Islands, and the Tonga group, including Tongatabu. David 

 is heir ap[)arent to King Geoi'ge, being his son by one of 

 the wives His Majesty discarded, on becoming Christian, 

 at the instance of the missionaries ; the only t,)ne he had by 



