16 TONGATABOO. 



that each company of warriors with their families are assigned a 

 particular quarter in which to build ; they have come prepared, too, 

 for the purpose, having brought many parts of their houses with 

 them. These houses have a temporary appearance, although they 

 are very comfortable ; and the rapidity with which they build them 

 is astonishing: the enclosure, and about fifty houses, were built 

 in three days; twelve men can complete a house in a little more 

 than a day. The average size of the houses is fifteen by twenty feet, 

 and about fifteen feet high under the ridge-pole ; they are of circular 

 or elliptical form. The furniture of the natives consists of their 

 implements of war, cava-bowl, a chest or box for their valuables, and 

 a set of mats, some of which are made for the floors, and others for 

 screens ; the latter are about two feet in width, and are seen partly 

 surrounding them when sitting, standing on their edges, which are 

 supported by scrolls at each end ; they are quite pretty, some of them 

 being much ornamented. 



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MAT SCREEN. 



They have great quantities of tapa cloth, in a thin sort of which 

 they use to roll themselves at night, as a security against the mus- 

 quitoes, with which their island abounds. The new town is beauti- 

 fully situated in a bread-fruit and cocoa-nut grove, which gives it 

 perpetual shade, whilst it is sufficiently open to admit the cool breeze. 



On the 26th, agreeably to my engagement, I moved the ship to the 

 island of Pangai-Moutu, in order to be near the place of meeting of the 

 conference between the two belligerent parties, and to protect both 

 from the treachery they seemed mutually to fear. Pangai-Moutu is 

 about three and a half miles from Nukualofa, and is now considered as 

 neutral ground ; the anchorage is a good and safe one. Our messen- 

 ger, Anne Eliza Tubou, returned, and gave me assurances that the 

 heathen were willing to meet in conference ; that they desired peace, 

 and to be left in the quiet enjoyment of their land and their gods, and 

 did not wish to interfere or have any thing to do with the new 

 religion. They again asked me, if they came, would I protect them 

 fully ? In reply to this, I sent the strongest assurances of protection 



