a 
56 OVOLAU. 
astonished, particularly when he saw the marines, with their muskets, 
presenting arms, and so many officers. The novel sight, to him, of 
my large Newfoundland dog, Sydney, who did not altogether like the 
sable appearance, of his majesty, the noise of the drum and boatswain’s 
pipe, combined to cause him some alarm, and he evinced a disposition 
to retire, keeping himself close to the ship’s side. He was, after the 
fashion of his group, almost naked, having a small maro passed around 
his loins, with long ends to it, and a large turban of tapa cloth in folds 
about his head, so as almost to hide the expression of his countenance; 
his face was bedaubed with oil and ivory-black, as were also his long 
beard and mustaches, the natural hue of which I understood was quite 
gray. From his begrimed look he has obtained the sobriquet of “ Old 
Snuff,” among the whites; he is about sixty-five years old, tall, slender, 
and rather bent by age; on his breast, hanging from his neck, he wore 
an ornament made of mother-of-pearl, tortoise-shell, and ivory, not 
very neatly put together, and as large as a dinner-plate, (called diva 
ndina); on his arms he had shell armlets, (called ygato,) made of the 
trochus-shell by grinding them down to the form of rings; his counte- 
nance was indicative of intelligence and shrewdness, as far as it could 
be seen; his mind is said to be quite active; he is about five feet ten 
inches in height, and of small frame; his features are rather inclined 
to the European mould, and not the least allied to the negro; his hair 
is crispy; he speaks through his nose, or rather as if he had lost his 
palate ; his body is, like that of all his people, remarkably hairy. After 
presenting him to the officers, and receiving the rest of his suite, I led 
him to the after part of the deck, where mats were laid down, and we 
all seated ourselves to hold a council; for I was anxious to finish first 
the business for which I had particularly sought the interview; this 
was to procure the adoption of rules and regulations for the intercourse 
with foreign vessels, similar to those established in the Samoan Group 
the year preceding. David Whippy became my interpreter, but Tanoa 
had too much dignity about him to receive the interpretation through 
Whippy alone, although he understood all that he said perfectly, for 
Whippy speaks their language well; but he had his “ speech-explain- 
ing counsellor,’ Malani-vanua Vakanduna, or prime minister, who 
was a remarkably good-looking, intelligent man. Whippy gave his 
name as Korotumvavalu, and said that he had great influence with the 
king. It was amusing to see their mode of conducting the business, 
and to understand that Tanoa’s dignity would be offended by holding 
discourse with our friend Whippy as interpreter; not, however, (as it 
was explained to me by Tubou Totai,) from any objection he had to 
Whippy, but it would be derogatory to his rank and station. 
