TONGATABOO. 11 
of, was residing at Hihifo, a town or fortress on the west end of the 
island, where he converted a few of the natives, who were required to 
remove from the district by the ata, which is the title the governor 
of the district bears. They refused, as they asserted their lands 
were all there, and they wished to remain. About the same time, 
Mr. Rabone thought proper to shoot one of their sacred pigeons, which 
incensed the people against him; for if a native had committed the 
same act, he would have been clubbed, and as he himself confessed he 
knew their superstitious feeling for this bird. Mr. Rabone, in conse- 
quence of this occurrence, was obliged to remove to Nukualofa. The 
heathen also complained that their temples were desecrated, their 
customs broken in upon, and their pleasures destroyed by the Christian 
party, who endeavoured to interdict their comforts, and force laws 
upon them in the shape of taboos through their king; that they even 
prohibited the smoking of tobacco, an innocent pleasure, which the 
natives have long been accustomed to, and take great delight in, but 
which is now forbidden by royal ordinance to the Christian party, and 
any infraction of the law severely punished. ‘The heathen now said 
that they could no longer endure these acts, and were determined to 
resist them by retaliation, and prevent the further propagation of the 
Christian religion. 
The natives who had renounced heathenism, and joined the Christian 
party, finding they were not permitted to remain at Hihifo, retired to a 
short distance from it, and built themselves a small fortress, which the 
ata finally blockaded. The Christian party now sent for aid to 
Nukualofa, and having enlisted the feelings of the missionaries and 
their adherents in the cause, they sent a message for King George, 
who again came with a large force from Hapai and Vavao to their 
assistance. On his arrival, a long conference ensued, in which the ata 
expressed himself desirous of treating for peace, and proposed that a 
conference should take place in his fort. 
To this King George assented, and proceeded to the small Christian 
fortress in the vicinity of Hihifo, where it is said he was met by a 
deserter from Hihifo, who told him that the only purpose of inviting 
him to a conference there was to assassinate him and his chiefs. This 
story was said to have been confirmed from other sources, but this 
additional evidence seemed far from being satisfactory. King George 
immediately resolved to invest and storm the fortress of Hihifo; and, 
for the purpose of diminishing the enemy’s strength, had recourse to a 
singular stratagem. He directed all of his men who had any friends 
or acquaintances in Hihifo, and of these there were many, to advance 
towards the walls, and each one to call to his relation, friend, or 
