TONGATABOO. 13 
wicker-work fences. The missionary houses are on the out skirts; 
the whole contains about six hundred houses; and on looking into a 
few, they did not appear to be very cleanly. The houses are built 
after the fashion of the Samoans, only the sides are of wicker-work, 
made of the slender sugar-cane. The dwellings of the missionaries 
are very like those of the better sort, and are within an enclosure ; 
and the only difference I observed was, that they had glazed windows. 
Like the others, they had no floors, and the earth was covered with 
mats. 
Mrs. Tucker, whom we found exceedingly intelligent, gave us a kind 
welcome. She has for some time been the principal instructress of 
both old and young: I can myself vouch for the unexpected proficiency 
of some of her scholars in speaking English. To her and her husband 
I feel much indebted for their answers to the many inquiries respecting 
the state of things in the island,—the employments and character of 
the natives, their wars, manners, and customs. ‘They appeared inde- 
fatigable in their exertions for what they considered the good of the 
natives; among other things, they have endeavoured to introduce a 
variety of vegetables and fruits: cabbages, turnips, and mustard were 
seen; among the fruits, were pine-apples and custard-apples, which 
thrive well; oranges have been introduced, but do not succeed, be- 
cause they are injured by an insect, which leaves its larvee on the fruit, 
and causes it to fall before it reaches maturity. They are obliged to 
pull all their fruits before they are ripe, in consequence of their liability 
to destruction by the ants, if left to ripen on the tree. 
King George, or Taufaahau, is building his town near by, just 
without the fortification of King Josiah: it is an enclosure of four 
hundred yards square; the fence consists of close wicker-work, made 
of the small sugar-cane, and in order to make it stronger, several 
thicknesses are put together: this makes a more effective defence than 
one would imagine; it is about eight feet high, and trimmed off on the 
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TONGA FENCE. 
top, and when new has a very pretty appearance. The permanency 
and arrangement with which the town is laid out, make Taufaahau’s 
intentions quite evident. The avenues cross the square diagonally, 
the gates being at the corners, and in the centre is a large area, left 
for a chapel. 
