Page:An account of the natives of the Tonga Islands.djvu/440

374 of respect to the departed chief ; and sat on the ground, waiting for the commencement of the ceremonies usual on such extraordinary occa- sions. In the mean time, the prince, and his uncle, Finow Fiji, prepared cava at a neighbouring house, and presented it there to the priest of Toobo Totai out of respect to that god, who was now become the tutelar deity of the young prince. By the mouth of his priest the god desired him not to fear rebellion ; for who should dare to rebel against a chief who was the pecu- liar care of the powers of Bolotoo ? He com- manded him moreover to reflect on the circum- stances of his father's death, as a salutary lesson to himself : " Your father," said the divinity, " is now no more ; — but why did he die ? — be- cause he was disrespectful to the gods !" The conference here ended. A short time after, the prince, whilst reflecting on the words of the oracle, was addressed by a woman, who was sit- ting behind him in waiting, and who was much respected by the late king and his family, on account of her having given him some informa- tion respecting a real or supposed conspiracy, the part of the Vavaoo chiefs ; (Booboono, Cacahoo, and others, who were seized in conse- quence at Macave, and afterwards put to death ; see p. 276.) This woman remarked to the prince