Page:An account of the natives of the Tonga Islands.djvu/442

376 clamation) " no wonder that he died ! a chief " with such dreadful intentions ! " Mr. Mariner then stated, in addition, that he had heard the king say more than once, (a few days before he died,) *' How unmindful are the gods of my " welfare !— but no ! it is not the decree of the " gods in general it is to that vexatious Too- " bo Totai, that I owe my misfortunes ; he " a little, I'll be revenged ! his priest shall not " live long*!" The prince and his uncle, Finow Fiji, next held a consultation together respecting their mode of conduct, particularly in regard to cer- tain chiefs, who were suspected of not being well disposed towards their family. Finow Fiji, for his own part, said, that he had no other wish than to coincide in whatever should seem likely to establish the peace and welfare of Hafooloo Hozv (the name given to Vavaoo and all its neighbouring small islands, taken collectively), and that the only method of doing this would there were such beings as the gods: — he thought that men were fools to believe what the priests told them. Mr. Ma- riner expressed his wonder that he should doubt their exist- ence, when he acknowledged that he had more than once felt himself inspired by the spirit of Moomoe (a former How of Tonga) : " True ! " replied the king, " there may be gods ; but what the priests tell us about their power over mankind, 1 believe to be all false."
 * does not exert himself for my good : but wait
 * Finow had often stated to Mr. Mariner his doubts that