Page:An account of the natives of the Tonga Islands.djvu/431

Rh THE TONGA ISLANDS. 365 fury, till at length that party which belonged to the side of the island on which Finow dwelt began to give way : instantly he rushed from the house in which he was seated, to reanimate his men by his presence and exertions, which he effected to such a degree, that the opposite party in their turn fell back, and were com- pletely beaten off the ground. This contest being now ended, the company dispersed, each to his respective home, whilst Finow retired to a small house, which had been built since his daughter's, death, near Boono (the large house on the maldi) ; and there, feeling himself much exhausted, he laid down to rest from his fatigue. He had not been long in this posture before he found him- self very ill : his respiration became difficult : he turned himself repeatedly from side to side ; his lips became purple, and his under jaw seemed convulsed : from time to time he groaned deeply and most horribly : all the by- standers were much affected, the women shed a profusion of tears, and the men were occu- pied no doubt with the thoughts of what com- motion might happen in the event of his death, what blood might be spilt, and what battles won and lost. The king, in the meanwhile, seemed perfectly sensible of his situation : he attempted to speak, but the power of utterance.