24 TONGATABOO. 
been committed to the offerings they make him; and on this occasion 
they always make a human sacrifice. They also invoke him when the 
Tui Tonga is sick; and it depends on the reigning Tui Kanakabolo 
whether or not a human sacrifice is offered. None but gods are ever 
permitted to come from Bulotu. This god has his spirit-temple where 
all their valuable presents to the gods are deposited. I was shown by 
the missionaries some large whale’s teeth that were prettily carved, 
which had been found in the temple lately destroyed by the Christian 
party. 
We saw here three natives of the island of Rotuma, who had been 
some time at Tonga: one of them was said to be a chief of high rank ; 
another, an old man, a chief also, and a kind of Mentor to the former, 
ROTUMA CHIEF. 
who spoke a little English, and was quite blind, having become so since 
he had left his own island. The old man seemed to feel great solici- 
tude about his charge, and expressed a wish to get away from Tonga. 
The reason he gave me for this desire was, “ there was too much fight 
here; it would be bad for the young chief, who was to be a king.” 
He told me also there had been no war on his island for many years. 
It is generally known by the whalers and others, that at Rotuma, the 
people are the most peaceable of any of these Polynesian islanders ; 
and the whalers have been in the habit of resorting thither, because 
they experienced little difficulty, and are in no danger of being mo- 
lested by the natives. He mentioned that many of his islanders were 
now abroad, on board of whale-ships, where they earned good wages, 
and afterwards returned to the island with some property ; he said that 
