THE TONGA ISLANDS. 137 arrived, and all four pursued their walk to the old chiefs house ; where, when they arrived, the two chiefs and Finow*s daughter entered the. inside fencing, while Mr. Mariner went into a house within the outside fencing, and remained in conversation with a female attend- ant of Finow's daughter. They had not been long here, before Toobo Toa came in and shortly after went out again. There entered soon after four men belonging to him, who im- mediately began to take down the sail, mast and sprits of a small canoe j stating as their motive, when questioned by the woman, Tooba Toa's orders to prepare a canoe*; having taken what they wanted, they went out. In about two hours Finow came out of the inner fenc- ing, followed by Toobo Nuha and his own daughter ; as they passed on, Mr. Mariner fol- lowed her, and the female attendant walked last. — It was now night, but somewhat moon- light. As they passed the corner of the outer fencing, Toobo Toa and the four men just spoken of rushed from their hiding-place, and made a violent assault on Toobo Nuha : the first blow of a club he received on his shoulder, (intended
- The orders they had received from Toobo Toa were, ia
fact, to get ready a canoe to make his escape in, if his in- tended project against the life of Toobo Nuha should fail. These four men were his confidents.
