THE TONGA ISLANDS. 399 «' we listen to the idle talk of a hoy? HecoUect, whilst I speak to you, my voice is the echo « pf the sentiments of Toe Oomoo, and Oooloo- ^* valoo, and Afoo, and Fotoo, and Alo, and all
- < the high chiefs and matabooles of Vavaoo,-rr
Listen to me ! I remind you that if there be ^* any among you discontented with this state « of affairs, the present is the only opportunity
- ' I will give to depart : for let pass this occa-
« sion, and not at all shall we communicate " with Hapai. Choose therefore your dwelling- " places ; there is Fiji, there is Hamoa, there is Tonga, there is Hapai, there is Fotoona and Lotooma l—Those men in particular having " minds unanimous, loving to dwell in constant " peace, — they alone shall remain at Vavaioo " ^nd its neighbouring isles. Yet will I not
- suppress the bravery of any one warlike spi-
w :— Behold ! the islands of Tonga and Fiji ^re constantly at war ; let him there display his courage. Arise ! go to your respective ha- bitations ; and recollect, that to-morrow the canoes depart for Hapai*."
- For the original of this fine speech, and a literal transla-
tipn, see the latter part of the grammar. Mr. Mariner had in a manner learnt it off by heart, for it was so universally ad- mired that it was in every body's mouth for a long time after. The above version will be found somewhat different from the one in the first edition, and the reason is I did not at that time feel so well the force and strength of the Tonga idiom.
