Page:An account of the natives of the Tonga Islands.djvu/239

Rh THE TONGA ISLANDS. for him as an individual, but, as they were de- termined to live free, they would neither pro- pose nor accept of any other terms. The king then ordered his matabooles to conduct him to his canoe, and, turning towards the Vavaoo people, said, " Live, then, among yourselves " in idleness, and we will return to Hapai.'* During the time that Finow was addressing the Vavaoo people, the matabooles and war- riors that surrounded his canoe (among whom was Mr. Mariner) appeared much moved, and several shed tears, for his powers of persuasion were such, that, in defending his own cause, he seemed to be the most worthy, the most in- nocent, and the most unjustly used: on this account the greater chiefs and old matabooles of Vavaoo remained in the fortress, fearing to listen to his arguments, lest, being drawn aside by the power of his eloquence, they might mis- take that for true which was not, and even lead the young and ardent warriors into an error, by persuading them that what he said was rea- sonable and just. The fortress, on the top of a steep rising ground, as seen from the canoes, presented a most formidable and warlike appearance : its extent seemed enormous, and the tops of the white reeds, which were seen at a distance above the banks of red clay, the whole being