mUE, OB SAVAGE ISLAND. 35 



Tongans, some of whom remained and settled in tlie country, 

 it is possible that this has been one of the causes of its 

 abatement. At all events, enough has been said to remove 

 their progress in civilization out of the category of the 

 marvellous, and to make us regret that we have not been 

 made acquainted with the real original character and 

 condition of this manifestly prepossessing people,^ at the 

 time they were first made known to us. 



' That this epithet is warranted will be seen from the following 

 passage, in which Mr. Hood is alluding to the departure of the ' Fawn.' 

 ' At sunset we reluctantly bade them farewell ; and, after another 

 general hand-shaking with old and young, who pressed round the 

 boat, some swimming alongside to bid us good-bye, we left the shore 

 of these highly interesting and pleasant people, and their adventurous 

 instructors, in whose future fate we shall all feel an interest, although 

 I entertain no fear for their safety.' — Hood, p. 26. 



B 2 



