22 



TONGATABOO. 



well aware that they had avoided coming the day before, and had gone 

 out to make battle, instead of coming as appointed to the meeting, 

 and that they knew the chiefs of Moa had returned, I took care to let 

 them know that I was not to be imposed upon by such a trick. 

 When they saw they could not deceive me, they seemed disposed to 

 laugh it off; but finding that their chiefs and warriors (upwards of 

 one hundred) were all armed, I took care to retort upon them for 

 their want of confidence, and to tell them how unlike it was to their 

 profession of Christianity, and that they must show a proper disposi- 

 tion, before the white people would give them any credit for being 

 Christians. I then took the two kings with me on board the ship, 

 leaving their canoe to follow. Shortly after we had embarked, King 

 George's followers, finding a canoe on the beach owned by three 

 natives of Rotuma, who resided at Moa, stole the paddles out of it, 

 turned it over, and set it adrift. On making it known to King George, 

 however, he promised recompense, but would not punish or seek to 

 find out the perpetrators of the deed. I felt provoked that the king 

 should not have had more control over them. He in truth seems to 

 exercise very little power over his people. The kings were shown 

 over the ship, and several guns were fired, which they pretended 

 to wonder at very much. 



They remained on board upwards of an hour, and took lunch with 

 me. I was much amused with their conduct; they ate heartily of 

 every thing on the table, and finally crammed themselves with 

 almonds and raisins, with a most unkingly appetite. They then 

 requested leave to take some to their wives, which they tied up in the 

 corner of their tapas. Before they left the ship, I presented King 

 George (in the name of the government) with a handsome fowling- 

 piece, and King Josiah with a red silk umbrella, which highly 

 delighted him. Their majesties were both naked, except the tapa 

 wound around their waists ; and it was a curious sight to see them 

 endeavouring to imitate us in the use of knives and forks. They left 

 the ship highly delighted with their presents and visit, embarked in 

 their canoe, and proceeded to Nukualofa, all joining again in the same 

 chorus. The canoe was nearly level with the water, and appeared 

 like a floating mass of human beings. 



Thus ended my hopes of effecting the desired reconciliation be- 

 tween the two parties. The heathen are represented by the Christian 

 party and missionaries, as a set of cruel savages, great liars, trea- 

 cherous, and evil-disposed ; and this character seems to be given to 



