Page:An account of the natives of the Tonga Islands.djvu/399

Rh THE TONGA ISLANDS. 333 directly to be mentioned. A few days before the period that Cow Mooala had fixed on for his return to Vavaoo, the chief of Chichia made a sortie from his strong hold, and gave a ge- neral battle to the people of Pan. The men of Chichia were victorious, and returned in triumph to their little island. The chief, elated by these victories, resolved now to have an ex- traordinary feast before the departure of Cow Mooala. On the following day, therefore, a grand warlike dance was performed by the men, witl^ bracelets of fringed bark under their knees, and of shells round their arms. Their bodies and faces were painted with various configurations, in black and yellow^ producing, no doubt, a strange appearance. Each man was armed with a club and spear ; and, thus equipped, the whole body of them exhibited various warlike attitudes, such as throwing the spear, striking with the club, &c. — shouting and singing alternately. When they had finished their dancing, they sat down to drink cava ; after which the chief gave orders to his cooks to bring forward the feast : immediately ■ they advanced two and two, each couple bear- ing on their shoulders a basket, in which was the body of a man barbacued like a hog. The bodies were placed before the chief, who w^as »eated at the head of his company, on a large