TONGATABOO. 17 



to them. My hopes, however, of producing a peace and reconcilia- 

 tion among them, began to decline ; for it was evident that King 

 George and his advisers, and, indeed, the whole Christian party, 

 seemed to be desirous of continuing the war, either to force the 

 heathen to become Christians, or to carry it on to extermination, 

 which the number of their warriors made them believe they had the 

 power to effect. I felt, in addition, that the missionaries were 

 thwarting my exertions by permitting warlike preparations during 

 the pending of the negotiations. 



On the 28th, our boat returned from Moa, bringing an old blind 

 chief, called Mufa. The wife of Faatu came in place of her 

 husband, accompanied by four or five lesser chiefs, who had been 

 deputed to attend the council. The wife of Faatu is a large fat 

 woman. He himself was willing to attend, but his chiefs and people 

 interfered and prevented him, as he was coming to the boat, fearing 

 lest he should be detained as a hostage ; and they made such an 

 outcry (according to the officer) against it, that he was obliged to 

 yield. 



Mufa is the grandfather of Taufaahau, and was supposed would 

 have some influence with him. From every thing we saw, we 

 became satisfied that the heathen were desirous of making peace, at 

 least the people of Moa. I gave orders to provide them with every 

 thing for their comfort, giving them full assurance of my protection, 

 and their safe return ; and finding them ill at ease on board ship, I 

 ordered a tent to be pitched on shore for their accommodation, and 

 had them supplied with rice and molasses, as well as the food they 

 are in the habit of eating, consisting of yams, taro, &c. 



Deeming it advisable that Faatu should be present himself, I again 

 sent a boat for him. The people of Moa, though heathens, have not 

 taken an active part in the late disturbances, which are for the most 

 part confined to Bea and Houma ; and although the Moans are more 

 strongly allied to the latter, they have always kept up an intercourse 

 with Nukualofa. 



One can readily enter into the feelings of the heathen, who are 

 inhabitants of the sacred Tonga, and have always been looked up to 

 by the inhabitants of the rest of the group, who were obliged to 

 carry thither offerings, &c, to the gods, as superior to themselves, 

 when they see an attempt made to subjugate them, by those whom 

 they have always looked upon with contempt, and to force upon 

 them a new religion, and a change in every thing they have hitherto 



VOL. III. 5 



