Page:An account of the natives of the Tonga Islands.djvu/302

236 236 TRANSACTIONS AT whatever chief the keeper belongs to ; and if the chief thinks the offence really outrageous, he orders the naan a severe beating, which is usually done by inflicting heavy slaps with the open hand upon his bare back, or striking him about the head and face with the fist. rilim6eatoo soon departed from Foa, on his way to Hihifo, and arrived at this place without any accident. He was not, however, so suc- cessful in the object of his journey as he ex- pected to be ; for the chief of Hihifo was by no means willing to part with a bird, which, he said, had cost great hazard to himself, and the loss of many lives, to preserve; for he had sus- tained wars with so many other chiefs, who had quarrelled with him on account of his refusing to give it them, that he felt, he said, more than ever resolved to keep it : but, however, as Fi- now had so strong a desire for an excellent and well trained bird of that kind, he would make him a present of a pair, which, although not quite so good as the one in question, yet would be found exceedingly valuable. Before part- ing, however, he qualified his refusal of the rare bird by saying, that if he ever did give it away, it must be after very mature deliberation, for it had already cost him a vast deal, and was cer- tainly the best bird that had ever been trained. He was heartily glad to hear of the death of