29 TONGATABOO. 
and evil-disposed ; and this character seems to be given to them only be- 
cause 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 those of Bulotu do 
not consider lying, theft, adultery, murder, &c., as crimes, but as 
things of this world, which are left for the inferior gods to deal with, 
and do not concern their more elevated natures. ‘The only crime 
