18 TONGATABOO. 



looked upon as sacred. Such feelings are enough to make them war 

 against any innovation in their social polity and laws; and after 

 having been acknowledged from time immemorial as pre-eminent 

 throughout the whole group, including Wallis, Hoorn, Traitor's, and 

 Keppel's Islands, it is not surprising that they should be found the 

 active enemies of religious encroachments. Their vexation is aug- 

 mented by the disappointment they experienced in the last election 

 of the King of Tonga (Tui Kanakabolo) ; Tubou, although the brother 

 of his predecessor, was chosen by them in preference to Mumui, the 

 son, because they believed him to be favourable to their side, and 

 opposed to the Christian party ; Mumui, on the other hand, was 

 brought up by the missionaries, speaks English tolerably well, and is 

 the missionaries' principal school-teacher. Mr. Tucker informed me 

 that Mumui is now considered as the son of Tubou, and will be 

 entitled to the succession, for which both Faatu and Taufaahau, are 

 likewise candidates, on the death of Tubou. 



The singular custom is said to prevail in Tonga, that none of the 

 royal family ever receive a title of office ; for by so doing, I was told, 

 they would virtually renounce their right to the kingdom. The 

 Tui Kanakabolo has the power of rescinding titles. In one view, 

 the government may be considered a kind of family compact, for the 

 persons holding titles and offices, address one another by the names of 

 father, son, uncle, and grandfather, without reference whatever to 

 their real degree of relationship. 



The titles generally consist of the name of the district over which 

 the chief rules, and of which they receive the revenues, with " Tui," 

 a word synonymous with lord, before it. This, however, is not 

 always the case, for there are others who have distinct titles, as 

 Lavaka, the King of Bea, one of the bitterest opponents of the 

 Christians, and who is determined to die rather than submit to them ; 

 and Ata, Takafauna, and Vaea, the great chief of Houma. The 

 latter was deposed a short time since, yet still retains his title among 

 the heathen. 



Shadrach, or Mumui, as he is also called, is a good sample of the 

 Tongese. I saw him at Mr. Tucker's, where he was introduced to 

 me ; and I must confess myself not a little surprised to hear him 

 address me in tolerably good English, asking me the news, and what 

 occurrences had taken place in Europe. It appeared ridiculous 

 to be questioned by a half-naked savage upon such subjects ; but I 

 must do him the justice to say he seemed quite familiar with some 



