THE TONGA ISLANDS. 275 the older chiefs and matabooles, and Finow, in consequence, orders a fono to be addressed to the people, in which the impropriety of the conduct of the young chiefs is pointed out : the offenders receive a suitable admonition, and are ordered to desist from such ill behaviour for the future. From one cause or another, there is usually a fono, either general or partial, every fourteen or twenty days. It will be easily un- derstood that addresses of this kind are abso- lutely and frequently necessary, for the pre- servation of tolerable decency and good order, among a people who have no knowledge of any means of graphic communication. The speech is generally made by some old and principal mataboole *, as it was on this occasion, when the ceremony was held at Macave, about two miles and a, half from Felletoa ; after which, as usual, a large bowl of cava was provided. The chiefs and warriors ofVavaoo took a very active part in the preparation of the cava, to demon- strate to Finow their attention and loyalty. After the first bowl was drunk, while all were in expectation that the king would give out some
- The reader will recollect that the matabooles hold a
rank in society next below chiefs j they are the" ministers, as it were, and counsellors of chiefs : it is their duty also to attend to public ceremonies, and to keep ati eye upon the morals and general conduct of the people. T 2
