Page:An account of the natives of the Tonga Islands.djvu/432

366 was almost denied to him ; one word alone could be clearly distinguished, (land or country) : hence it was supposed that he meant to express his anxiety respecting the mischiefs and disturbances that might happen to the country in the event of his death. After wait- ing a little time, finding he did not get better, the prince, and a young chief named Voogi, went out to procure one of Finow's children by a female attendant, to sacrifice it to the gods, that their anger might be appeased, and the health of its father restored*. They found the child in a neighbouring house, uncon- sciously sleeping in its mother's lap : they took it away by force, and retiring with it behind an adjacent Fytoca, strangled it, as quickly as pos- sible, with a band of gnatoo : they then car- ried it, with all speed, before two consecrated houses and a grave, at each place hurrying over a short but appropriate prayer to the god to interfere with the other gods in behalf of Finow, and to accept of this sacrifice as an atonement for his crimes. This being done, they returned to the place where Finow lay, but found him with scarcely any signs of life, 217. The younger Finow used often to express his regret that the gods Avere so relentless as to require such cruel sa- crifices.
 * For further particulars respecting this ceremony, see p.