Page:An account of the natives of the Tonga Islands.djvu/323

Rh THE TONGA ISLANDS. 257 about? " Follow me," said he, "and I will " take you where you have never been before ; " booles, are now assembled." Mr. Mariner, . supposing it to be the famous cavern of which he had heard some account, without any fur- ther hesitation, prepared* himself to follow his companion, who dived into the water, and he after him, and, guided by the light reflected from his heels, entered the opening in the rock, and having dived through the passage, which is about eight or nine feet in length, rose into the cavern. He was no sooner above the sur- face of the water than, sure enough, he heard the voices of the king and his friends: being directed by his guide, he climbed upon a jut- ting portion of rock, and sat down. All the light that came into this place was reflected from the bottom, and was sufficient, after re* maining about five minutes, to show objects with some little distinctness j at least he could chief, it is considered very disrespectful to be undrest : under such circumstances as the present, therefore, every one re- tires a little, and as soon as he has divested himself of his usual dress, slips on an apron made of the leaves of the chi tree, or of matting called gie : the same respect is shewn if it be necessary to undress near a chief's grave ; because some hotooa or god may be present. VOL. 1. 5
 * and where Finow, and his chiefs and mata-
 * It is proper to mention that in presence of a superior