28 TONGATABOO. 



The women of the Tonga Group are equally remarkable for their 

 personal beauty. 



The natives of Tonga, from the missionaries' accounts, are in- 

 dustrious and ingenious; much attachment exists between husband 

 and wife, and they are very fond of their children. We were sur- 

 prised at their numbers, which give a striking air of cheerfulness 

 and gaiety to the scene, when they are seen in groups, playing, and 

 practising many kinds of jugglery. 



As far as we observed, the Tongese are A r ery fond of amusements, 

 and smoking tobacco is absolutely a passion with them ; this is raised 

 by themselves : the leaf is cut up very fine, and then rolled within a 

 fine pandanus-leaf, forming a cigar. The Christian party are not 

 allowed to smoke, although they use large quantities of ava, made of 

 the Piper mythisticum, which has more intoxicating and deleterious 

 effects than tobacco. So singular an interdiction of the one, with the 

 free use of the other, induced me to ask Mr. Tucker the reason of it, 

 and why, if they had only the power to prevent the use of one, they 

 did not prohibit the most pernicious ? The only answer I got was, 

 that it would be a pity to break up their ava circles. I believe that 

 few rise from them without being somewhat stupified, but it does not 

 amount to actual intoxication. The manner in which these natives 

 use tobacco is one of the most pleasing of their social customs, and 

 shows an absence of all selfishness ; it is the same as at the Samoan 

 Group, where the person who lights a pipe seldom gets more than two 

 whiffs of its contents, as it is immediately passed around. 



As a people they may be termed warlike ; and war-councils, making 

 speeches, and drinking ava, may be called the business of their lives. 



The women are said to be virtuous; their employments are to 

 make tapa, mats, baskets, &c, and do the housework. The men 

 cultivate the ground, and fish. The females are more in the habit 

 of using lime-water and lime on their hair than those we have seen 

 elsewhere. This application turns it red, but its chief use is to 

 promote cleanliness. Of the ingenuity of the men we saw many 

 proofs, in their manufacture of boxes, baskets, and miniature canoes. 



The last day I visited Nukualofa, Mr. Tucker was kind enough to 

 take me to see Tamahaa, the aunt of Tui Tonga, who is considered 

 of divine origin, for which reason great respect and honours are paid 

 her. It is said that she has great influence with the heathen, although 

 being a convert, she is favourable to the Christian side. As a token 

 of the great respect with which she is regarded, it was remarked that 



