Page:An account of the natives of the Tonga Islands.djvu/341

Rh THE TONGA ISLANDS. 275 the older chiefs and matabooles, and Finow, in consequence, orders a fono to be addressed to the people, in which the impropriety of the conduct of the young chiefs is pointed out : the offenders receive a suitable admonition, and are ordered to desist from such ill behaviour for the future. From one cause or another, there is usually a fono, either general or partial, every fourteen or twenty days. It will be easily un- derstood that addresses of this kind are abso- lutely and frequently necessary, for the pre- servation of tolerable decency and good order, among a people who have no knowledge of any means of graphic communication. The speech is generally made by some old and principal mataboole *, as it was on this occasion, when the ceremony was held at Macave, about two miles and a, half from Felletoa ; after which, as usual, a large bowl of cava was provided. The chiefs and warriors ofVavaoo took a very active part in the preparation of the cava, to demon- strate to Finow their attention and loyalty. After the first bowl was drunk, while all were in expectation that the king would give out some rank in society next below chiefs j they are the" ministers, as it were, and counsellors of chiefs : it is their duty also to attend to public ceremonies, and to keep ati eye upon the morals and general conduct of the people. T 2
 * The reader will recollect that the matabooles hold a