20 TONGATABOO. 
The canoe of these chiefs was seen advancing slowly over the calm 
sea by the efforts of its scullers, and was filled with men, all singing 
the following air, keeping perfect time and making excellent music; 
the notes were obtained by Mr. Drayton. 
fae Seer 
Stas ——— =a 
Se 
To this they sing any words, but generally such as are applicable 
to the mission of business or pleasure they may be on; and although 
the air and bass are heard most distinctly, the four parts are all sung 
in the most perfect harmony, From the fact that the tenors and 
basses sing parts of a bar, alternating with each other, and come in 
perfectly, it would seem that they cultivate music in their own rude 
way, producing a wild but agreeable effect. ‘To this the scullers keep 
time. 
This music has a great resemblance to that of the Samoan Group, 
and it is the custom in both to sing it while at work. It may there- 
fore be inferred that it is native, for the Tongese never had foreign 
music of any kind taught them. The missionaries themselves do not 
sing, and declared they were not able to tell Old Hundred from God 
save the King, if the same words were adapted to both! The females 
of this island, generally, have very musical voices, whose pitch is the 
same as that of European women; the voices of the men are a full 
octave below, round and full; all are very apt in learning a tune. 
Mr. Drayton remarks that he did not hear a single strain in the minor 
mood in singing, nor even in their natural sounds in speaking. Music 
might be cultivated among this people with great success, from the 
evident delight they take in musical sounds, and their strong desire to 
learn; but they could with difficulty be prevailed upon to sing, for the 
state of the country and the fear of the missionaries, or the order of 
the king, prevented it. 
Finding me engaged on the island of Pangai-Moutn, at the observa- 
