100 UPOLU—MANONO — S AVAIL 



middle nine and a half fathoms, decreasing thence gradually in 

 all directions to the shore. The form of the lake is neaidy circular, 

 and it has a subterranean outlet. The hill in which this crater is 

 situated is conical, and there is a low knoll at some distance to the 

 south of it, which is the only other elevation in the neighbourhood, 

 above the general height of the ridge. 



The border of the crater is clothed with the usual forest foliage of 

 these islands, which, however, exhibits here more than usual beauty, 

 being decorated with the finely worked fronds of the arborescent ferns, 

 in widely-spread stars, and the graceful plumes of a large mountain 

 palm. 



The poets of the island have appreciated the beauty of the place, 

 and allude to the perpetual verdure which adorns the banks of the 

 lake, in the following line : 



" Lauuto'o e le toi a e lau mea." 



" Lauto, untouched by withered leaf." 



There is a legend connected with this lake, that has more of poetic 

 beauty and feeling than one would have supposed to exist among so 

 rude a people. It is as follows : 



Many generations since, during a war between Upolu and Savaii, 

 a number of war-canoes from the latter island crossed over to attack 

 Ulatamoa (or, as it is now called, Ulumoenga), the principal town in 

 the district of Aana. At the time of their approach, two brothers, 

 To'o and Ata, chanced to be paddling their canoes in the channel 

 between the reef and the shore, and before they could reach the land 

 were attacked by a party of Savaiians. After a valiant defence, Ata 

 was overpowered and slain, while To'o narrowly escaped the same 

 fate. 



Overwhelmed with sorrow at the loss of a brother whom he 

 tenderly loved, To'o retired to a neighbouring mountain, and burying 

 himself in the darkest recesses of its forests, made them resound with 

 his bitter lamentations. At length in his wanderings he came to 

 the summit, where, stooping down, he scooped out with his hands a 

 vast hollow, and, leaning over its brink, suffered his tears to fall in 

 until it was filled. The lake thus formed has ever since borne the 

 appellation of Lauu-to'o. 



The regard of To'o for his brother's memory was further evinced 

 by his adoption of Ata's name, conjoined to his own as his family 



