Page:An account of the natives of the Tonga Islands.djvu/472

406 ever restless and ambitious spirit would fre- quently vent itself in such expressions as the following : " Oh, that the gods would make 'i'-me king of England ! there is not an island " in the whole world, however small, but what " I would then subject to my power : the king " of England does not deserve the dominion " he enjoys j possessed of so many great ships, " with acts of treachery? Were I he, would I " would come with the front of battle'^; and " who ought to be chief. None but men of " enterprising spirit should be in possession of as these would he now and then break forth > in presence of Mr. Mariner, after conversing on the power of the king of England. Hence his character, as to ambition, is drawn by himself with bold arid decided lines. As to intrigue of battle^ is a very uSual expression among them. f The expression they use for the noise of guns : the Avord Britain they Cannot pronounce in any other way than Bolotdne.
 * ' why does he suffer such petty islands as those
 * ' of Tonga continually to insult his people
 * ' send tamely to ask for yams and pigs ? No, I
 * ' with the thunder of Bolotane I would shew
 * ' guns ; let such rule the earth, and be those
 * ' their vassals who can bear to submit to such
 * ' insults unrevenged !" With such sentiments
 * i/Iooa totv, which literally means the front or fore-part