THE FRIENDLY ISLANDS 
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3. The Tonga or Friendly Islands. 
South-east of Fiji lie the Tonga or Friendly Islands, 
which are divided into three groups—the Tongatabu, 
Namuka, and Yavau—by two tolerably clear channels. 
In all they comprise about a hundred islands and islets, 
of which not more than ten can with justice be placed in 
the former category. Tongatabu is considerably the 
largest, being over 22 miles long. Yavau and Eua are 
next in importance, and there are seven or eight others 
not less than 5 miles in length. The rest are mere islets. 
The group is surrounded by dangerous coral reefs, and 
though the soil is very fertile there is a lack of flowing 
streams. Most of the islands are low, and consist of 
raised coral, but there are also a number of volcanic peaks 
of some height, among which several are active. Kao 
(5000 feet) has had more than one eruption in modern 
times; Tufoa, to the west of Hapai, is always smoking, 
and a considerable eruption took place in 1885. Latte, 
south-west of Yavau, is sub-active, as is Amargura to the 
north-west, and there are several other extinct cones. 
The last-named island was almost destroyed by a violent 
eruption in August, 1847, the explosions of which were 
audible 160 miles away. Ashes fell in large quantities 
on ships 600 miles to the north-east. Previous to this 
eruption the island was fertile and populous, but it is now 
barren and treeless and without inhabitants. The people 
escaped, warned by the violent earthquakes which pre¬ 
ceded the eruption. 
The Tonga Islands were discovered by Tasman in 
1643, and were next visited by Cook in 1773, and again 
in 1777, on which occasion he stayed three months. 
The natives belong to the fair Polynesian race, and 
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