Page:An account of the natives of the Tonga Islands.djvu/182

116 tevenge for the destruction of her crew. Finow immediately sent for the letter and obtained it, under some specious pretext, fro-m the chief of Mafanga. When it was put into his hands* he looked at it on all sides ; but not being able to make any thing of it, he gave it to Jeremiah Higgins, who was at hand, and ordered him to say what it meant : Mr. Mariner was not pre- sent. Higgins took the letter, and translating part of it into the Tonga language, judiciously represented it to be merely a request to any English captain that might arrive to interfere with Finow for the liberty of Mr. Mariner and his countrymen : stating that they had been kindly treated by the natives, but, nevertheless, wished to return, if possible, to their native country. This was not indeed the true sub- stance of the letter, but it was what was least likely to give offence : and the chief accordingly remarked that it was very natural for these poor fellows to- wish to go back to their native coun-> try and friends*. to the Hapai Islands in preference to the Island of Tonga, as being a better place for victualling: advising at the same time, not to suffer many of the natives to be on board at once, lest they should meet vi'ith the same fate as the Port au Prince, but, if possible, to make some of the chiefs prisoners and keep them as hostages^ till Mr. Mariner and his companions were delivered up.
 * The letter in fact was an advice to European ships to ga