TONGATABOO. 11 



to act as a disguise, and prevent them from being known to the 

 enemy, but yet they are readily distinguished by their own party. 



Anxious to know the actual cause of the war, I made every in- 

 quiry that was in my power, and satisfied myself that it was in a 

 great measure a religious contest, growing out of the zeal the mis- 

 sionaries have to propagate the gospel, and convert the heathen. 

 With this is combined the desire of King George, or Taufaahau, who 

 is already master of Hapai and Vavao, to possess himself of all the 

 islands of the group. About three years prior to our visit, a war 

 had broken out in Tonga of a similar character, and the Christian 

 party being hard pressed, sent to ask the aid of King George, who 

 came, relieved them, and defeated their enemies. Mr. Rabone, the 

 missionary above spoken of, was residing at Hihifo, a town or fortress 

 on the west end of the island, where he converted a few of the natives, 

 who were required to remove from the district by the ata, which is 

 the title the governor of the district bears. They refused, as they 

 asserted their lands were all there, and they wished to remain. About 

 the same time, Mr. Rabone thought proper to shoot one of their sacred 

 pigeons, which incensed the people against him ; for if a native had 

 committed the same act, he would have been clubbed, and as he 

 himself confessed he knew their superstitious feeling for this bird. 

 Mr. Rabone, in consequence of this occurrence, was obliged to 

 remove to Nukualofa. The heathen also complained that their 

 temples were desecrated, their customs broken in upon, and their 

 pleasures destroyed by the Christian party, who endeavoured to 

 interdict their comforts, and force laws upon them in the shape of 

 taboos through their king ; that they even prohibited the smoking 

 of tobacco, an innocent pleasure, which the natives have long been 

 accustomed to, and take great delight in, but which is now forbidden 

 by royal ordinance to the Christian party, and any infraction of the 

 law severely punished. The heathen now said that they could no 

 longer endure these acts, and were determined to resist them by reta- 

 liation, and prevent the further propagation of the Christian religion. 



The natives who had renounced heathenism, and joined the Chris- 

 tian party, finding they were not permitted to remain at Hihifo, 

 retired to a short distance from it, and built themselves a small 

 fortress, which the ata finally blockaded. The Christian party now 

 sent for aid to Nukualofa, and having enlisted the feelings of the 

 missionaries and their adherents in the cause, they sent a message 

 for King George, who again came with a large force from Hapai 



