TONGATABOO. 23 



them only because they will not listen to the preaching ; and it is 

 alleged they must therefore be treated with severity, and compelled 

 to yield. Under these feelings it was in vain to expect to produce 

 a reconciliation ; and, had I been aware of them, I should not have 

 attempted the task. I must here record, that in all that met our 

 observations, the impression was, that the heathen were well-disposed 

 and kind, and were desirous of putting an end to the difficulties. 



Several of the officers visited Moa. In order to reach it, it is 

 necessary to pass in boats through a large shallow lagoon, and it must 

 be crossed nearly at high water, or the channel will be found very 

 tortuous. The town or village is situated a little above the general 

 level ; it is surrounded by a ditch, which has little depth, as the coral 

 rock is soon reached, and is not cut into. The intrenchment is com- 

 posed of earth and logs, over which is a wicker fence, like that at 

 Nukualofa; at the gates the ditch is interrupted, so as to form 

 entrances, which are narrow and low. On the inside a guard-house 

 with a sentinel was found ; within the intrenchment was a high and 

 well-built fence, and inside again were separate enclosures. They 

 were led to the house of Faatu, the principal chief, who treated them 

 with civility and kindness; they found him to possess both dignity 

 and politeness. In his house were several Tonga drums, which were 

 offered as seats. The natives were in great numbers, of all ages and 

 sexes. A brisk trade was carried on for the supplies we needed ; and 

 although Faatu took no active part, yet the whole was evidently 

 under his supervision. 



The missionaries were kind enough to give me the following 

 outline of the belief of the heathen belonging to this group of islands. 

 They worship many gods, who are believed to possess unlimited 

 power over them, and are called the gods of Bulotu or Atua faka 

 Bulotu, whom they believe immortal; some of these gods are of this 

 world, and are called Atua. 



They believe that all evil is inflicted by certain gods, called Atua 

 Banuu ; that the spirits of all chiefs go to Bulotu ; but that those of 

 poor people remain in this world, to feed upon ants and lizards ; that 

 the island of Bulotu is not distant, although they do not attempt 

 to fix its locality ; that both gods and goddesses have visited 

 Tonga within thirty years past, when they drank ava in their 

 temples, and were married to Tonga chiefs ; that the higher gods or 

 tho:se of Bulotu do not consider lying, theft, adultery, murder, &c, 

 as crimes, but as things of this world, which are left for the inferior 



