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118 ority of Feenou. He himself assented to this preeminence of Toobou, who, he said, was to be on board us the next day.

29th. I had intended to spend this day on the island of Tongataboo, with some of my shipmates; but the General desired us to postpone this excursion, till the chiefs had given us a proof, that they were really determined to put an end to the depredations committed by their subjects.

Several canoes surrounded our vessels, but no one was permitted to come alongside. Many of their people, weary of their situation, as they could not carry on any kind of traffic, amused themselves with fishing. Their nets were nearly nine yards long, about a yard and a half deep, and the meshes were about an inch square. From the shape of these nets, several of which we had already purchased, we imagined that they used them as we do seines, hauling them up on the beach; but we were much astonished to see them throw them out in the open road, much in the same manner as we do a casting-net. On the lower side were fastened pieces of coral, which sunk the net rapidly to the bottom; and the fishermen immediately dived, to bring the two ends together by means of small lines fastened to them; thus enclosing the fish, which they put into their canoes. It is obvious that fish must be