Page:An account of the natives of the Tonga Islands.djvu/362

296 month of July, when the natives flock to this plantation for the purpose of catching them, where having procured a quantity, they take them home to their families in baskets made of plaited leaves of the cocoa-nut tree. Mahe Boogoo, the chief to whom this valu- able piece of ground belonged, being about to go and reside at the Hapai islands, made a pre- sent of this delightful spot to the king. Mr. Mariner, having now nothing particular in which to employ himself, the war being at an end, begged of the king to give up this planta- tion to him, that he might amuse himself by seeing it properly cultivated : to this the king, after a little hesitation, consented; when Mr. Mariner requested the farther favour that he might be exempt from all taxes, that no chief might despoil his plantation, under pretext of levying any species of contribution ; and this exemption, he observed, would be no more than what was consistent with the Tonga custom, which exacts no contribution from foreigtiers, unless indeed it be upon some sacred occasion, as the ceremony of indchi, &c. To this also the king gave his assent, upon mutual agree- ment, that the whole plantation was to be con- sidered at Finow's service, as being the father and protector of Mr. Mariner, but that he woujd not take any thing nor trespass upon it