O V O L A U. 69 



to follow it or observe any regularity, each individual making his 

 allotted part according to his own fancy ; these separate portions 

 were afterwards joined together, forming a zigzag work. The parts 

 of the enclosure were tied together by a species of Dolichos, crossed, 

 braced, and wattled like basket-work, the whole making a tight fence, 

 which answered the purpose well enough. 



The digging of the ground was performed with a long pointed pole, 

 which they thrust into the ground with both hands, and by swinging 

 on the upper end they contrived to raise up large pieces of the soil, 

 which was quite hard. After this, two sailors with spades smoothed 

 it. The centre of the garden had been a repository for their dead, 

 where many stones had once been placed, which had become scat- 

 tered. These the natives were told to throw in a pile in the centre. 

 They went on digging for some time, probably without an idea that 

 any one had been buried there, but as they approached the pile they 

 simultaneously came to a stop, and began to murmur among them- 

 selves, using the words mate mate. No inducement could persuade 

 them to proceed, until it was explained to them by David Whippy, 

 that there was no desire to dig in the direction of the grave, which 

 was to be left sacred. With this intimation they seemed well 

 satisfied, and went on digging merrily. A large quantity of seeds, of 

 various kinds of vegetables and fruits, were planted. For the fencing 

 and digging of the garden I gave, by agreement, a trade musket, and 

 I believe this included the purchase of the ground ! 



The day after Tanoa's visit, I received from him a royal present of 

 ten hogs, a quantity of yams, taro, fruit, &c. 



Our stay at Ovolau continued for six weeks. Among the incidents 

 which occurred during this time were the following. 



On the 17th May, Daniel Bateman died. He had been a marine 

 on board the Porpoise, and had been transferred to the Vincennes at 

 Tonga. A post mortem examination showed that the right lung was 

 almost wholly destroyed by disease, and there was about a pint of 

 purulent matter in the pleura. 



On the 19th, Seru, the son of Tanoa, arrived from Ambau, for the 

 purpose of visiting me. I immediately sent him and his suite an 

 invitation to meet me at the observatory on the following ds.j, with 

 which he complied. Seru is extremely good-looking, being tall, well 

 made, and athletic. He exhibits much intelligence both in his ex- 

 pression of countenance and manners. His features and figure 

 resemble those of a European, and he is graceful and easy in his 



VOL. III. 18 



