TONGATABU. 127 



descending deeper and deeper, till his fingers meet each 

 other at the bottom, so that nearly the whole of the fibres 

 of the root are by these means inclosed in the vau, forming, 

 as it were, a roll of above two feet in length, lying along 

 the bottom from side to side, the edges of the vau meeting- 

 each other underneath. He now carefully rolls it over, so 

 that the edges overlapping each other, or rather interming- 

 ling, come uppermost. He next doubles in the two ends, 

 and rolls it carefully over again, endeavouring to reduce 

 it to a narrower and firmer compass. He now brings it 

 cautiously out of the fluid, taking firm hold of it by the two 

 ends, one in each hand (the back of the hands being up- 

 wards), and, raising it breast high, with his arms considerably 

 extended, he brings his right hand towards his breast, 

 moving it gradually onwards ; and, whilst his left hand is 

 coming round towards his right shoulder, his right hand 

 partially twisting the vau, lays the end which it holds upon 

 the left elbow, so that the vau lies thus extended upon that 

 arm, one end being still grasped by the left hand. The 

 right hand, being now at liberty, is brought under the left 

 forearm (which still remains in the same situation), and 

 carried outwardly towards the left elbow, that it may again 

 seize in that situation the end of the vau. The right hand 

 then describes a bold curve outwardly from the chest, 

 whilst the left comes across the chest, describing a curve 

 nearer to him, and in the opposite direction, till, at length, 

 the left hand is extended from him, and the right approaches 



