Page:An account of the natives of the Tonga Islands.djvu/391

Rh THE TONGA ISLANDS. S25 OTie particular place near the lake, in which he afterwards, concealed himself, boldly devised a method to destroy him. Between the beach and the lake was a la^i'ge feU tree; and the old man's plan was- this:— to procure a long rope, and, passing it over a strong branch of this tree, to let one end, at which there was a run- ning noose, hang near the ground, whilst the other end was to be. in the possession of about fourteen or fifteen strong men, concealed at a little distance in high grass. The old. man, .who was a staunch warrior, and well fitted .for such a perilous task, having engaged the solemn pro- mise of his confederates to act theu parts with steadiness and fidelity, undertook to walk about on the beach at the time the monster was to be expected, and, at his approach, to recede be- hind the noose, through which the animal must necessarily pass his head to lay hold of him; at which moment he would call out to them to puH the rope, and noose him tight. Matters being thus adjusted, the expected enemy made his appearance, and ran towards the old man, who took his station behind the noose, and, the moment the animal put his jaws through it, he sprang back, and gave the appointed signal; instantly the cord was drawn tight, and their prey was caught with his head and one paw through the noosje; they soon se cured. the ropc^