Page:An account of the natives of the Tonga Islands.djvu/281

Rh 1 THE TONGA ISLAND^. 216 from those of profit (as they could employ them in making gnatoo, &c.) When they arrived at Neafoo, there happened a strong dispute be- tween several relations of the prisoners, and those who had taken them ; the former arguing that they had a claim to the women, according to the old Tonga custom, which decrees, that all persons shall be in the service of their older and superior relations, if those relations think proper to employ them : the captors, on the other hand, strenuously grounded their claims on the right of conquest. The dispute ran very high, and they referred it to Finow, who replied, that he should not interfere in it, and they might settle it themselves as well as they could, for they had no right to bring the pri^ soners there to create disturbances, but should have dispatched them according to his orders. At length he condescended to give his opinion, viz. that the most proper method would be, under these circumstances, to cut each woman in two, and give one half to her relation, and the other to the captor. The affair, however, was amicably settled, without having recourse to such bloody measures ; some being given up to their relatives, and others retained, upon terms mutually agreeable to all parties. About this time the two long expect 3d canoes arrived from Hapai, laden with provisions: they I