12 TONGATABOO. 
acquaintance, within, and assure him of safety if he would desert ! 
This had the desired effect, and a great many persons, forming a large 
part of the garrison, jumped over the wall, and joined the besiegers. 
The remainder, being weakened and disheartened, surrendered. ‘Thus 
the difficulty ended for the present, the rest of the heathen not having 
yet joined in the affair, although it was said they were fully prepared 
for hostilities. King George now re-embarked, to return home with 
his warriors, sailing for Honga Tonga and Honga Hapai, which is 
the route taken in their voyages when going back to Vavao. 
The following account of the resolution he took there was derived 
from King George, through Mr. Tucker, and clearly proved to my 
mind that his object now was to enlarge his dominions, by adding to 
them the island of Tonga. “Here he reflected upon the subject of his 
departure, and the defenceless state of King Josiah or Tubou; and he 
was so forcibly struck with his danger, and that of the missionaries, 
that he resolved to return, and remain at Nukualofa until the heathen 
were finally subdued.” We, in consequence, found him established, 
building and fortifying a town, and his forces daily arriving from 
Vavao and Hapai. Indeed his whole conduct did not leave us any 
room to doubt what his intentions were, and that the missionaries and 
he were mutually serving each other’s cause. I mentioned my suspi- 
cions, relative to King George’s ambition, to the missionaries, and how 
likely it would be to prevent any reconciliation or peace with the 
heathen, and was much surprised and struck with the indifference with 
which Mr. Rabone spoke of the war. He was evidently more inclined 
to have it continue than desirous that it should be put a stop to; viewing 
it, in fact, as a means of propagating the gospel. I regretted to hear 
such sentiments, and had little hope, after becoming aware of them, of 
being instrumental in bringing about a peace, when such unchristian 
views existed where it was least to be expected. 
On consultation, Eliza Anne Tubou was selected as the most proper 
messenger of peace that could be sent, and the only one indeed who 
could go with safety. She is the daughter of Faatu, the heathen chief 
of Moa, one of the largest heathen fortresses ; is married to a chief of 
the Christian party. She is a fine intelligent-looking woman, with good 
sense and much good feeling, and entered warmly into the arrange- 
ments. She was despatched with a written proposal for the conference, 
and was to return the next day. She is called the sacred daughter, 
and goes where she likes without being molested. 
After the council was over, I went with Mr. Tucker to the mission- 
ary houses, passing through the town (if so it may be called), com- 
posed entirely of reed huts, of small dimensions, and enclosed with 
