CHAPTER IX. 



TONGA ISLES. 



The Tonga Islands were discovered by Tasman in 1643. The}' 

 have, however, been generally known by the name which Captain 

 Cook gave them, — the Friendly Isles. They are said to be as many 

 as 150, but this is a great exaggeration, for many of these are merely 

 islets, situated on the same reef, and therefore instead of being 

 separated should be counted as one ; 15 of them are high and vol- 

 canic, and the rest low, and 40 of them are of considerable size, and 

 inhabited. 



This group is situated between the latitudes of 18° and 23° south, 

 and 173° and 176° west longitude. It may be said to embrace three 

 small clusters, that of Tonga, Haabai, and Vavao, of which Tonga 

 being the most important and largest, besides holding sway, gives its 

 name to the whole. The three clusters offer some good harbors, and 

 afford all the supplies that can be obtained among the Pacific Islands. 

 Since the missionaries have been established, they have become more 

 entitled to the designation given by Cook, the Friendly Isles ; but yet 

 they are inclined to be somewhat lawless, and use the power that 

 force will give them over an unprotected vessel, seizing whatever they 

 can lay their hands on belonging to strangers, whether of the crew 

 or vessel, regardless of the inconveniences they may put others to. 

 It is as well, therefore, for the masters of vessels to avoid all kinds 

 of disputes or differences in trading, and particularly to prevent any 

 infringement of their Sabbath laws, as the chiefs border on fanaticism 

 in their observance of them. 



The Tonga cluster comprises the islands of Tongatabou, Eoa, Evai- 

 tihe, Katoo, and 19 islets situated on the reef attached to Tonga- 

 tabou. Of these Tongatabou is the largest, including the coral reef 

 attached to it, on which the islets are situated ; it has the form 

 of a triangle, each side being nearly 20 miles in length, and of this 

 area a little more than half is land. Within the space between the 



