TONGATABU. 139 



are no longer any avowed heathens ; all the natives have 

 embraced Christianity, the greater part of them as Wesleyans, 

 the remainder, about 1200, as Eoman Catholics. 



Primary instruction is so extensively diffused that nearly 

 everybody knows how to read.^ But what is regretted is 

 that the people have not, as means of increasing their know- 

 ledge, other books than those that are merely religious, and, 

 for the most part, translations published by the missionaries 

 themselves. Though there are to be found in the country 

 artisans, both European and American, it is said, and the 

 fact is curious enough, that there is not a single native 

 acquainted with any handicraft. In spite of a well-regulated 

 government, and a code of laws in complete action, the mass 

 of the people has scarcely made any advance in industrial 

 pursuits since Captain Cook visited these islands. This 

 slackness of progress is attributed to the climate, which 

 renders clothing unnecessary, to the abundance of breadfruit 

 trees, which furnish fruit to the inhabitants nine months of 

 the year, and to the small amount of industry required for 

 their sustentation during the other three months. The 

 Tongans are more indolent than many others of the Ocean 

 tribes to which they presume to think themselves superior, 

 and are entirely indebted for their reputation to the personal 

 merit of their king, Avho is far beyond his subjects in his 

 zeal for progress and his tliorough appreciation of the bene- 



' English is said to be tolerably understood by the Tongans, but 

 little spoken in consequence of the difficulty presented by the pro- 

 nunciation of the consonants. Ibid., p. 162. 



