192

TRANSACTIONS AT

far, he met a man who had deserted from theenemy, and who informed him of their know-ledge of his expedition, their plan of frustratinghis object, as well as the alleged treachery ofLioofau. The king upon hearing this, beforehe advanced a step farther, ordered Lioofauinto immediate confinement, with a strongguard over him. This being done, he pro-ceeded towards the fortress of Felletoa, andtaking advantage of the information given himby the deserter, actually hemmed in the veryparty that would otherwise have done the sameto him. These, finding themselves, contraryto their expectations, surrounded by Finow’sarmy, and seeing no other resource than to en-deavour to force their way through, made theattempt, and succeeded, after a hard struggle,attended by great slaughter: sixty of the ene-my were killed, and fourteen or fifteen of theHapai people also fell. The enemy now re-treated towards the field of yams, to join thosewho were stationed there for its defence ; andFinow, thinking it hazardous to make a fartherattack, retired back upon Neafoo, taking withhim the sixty dead bodies. The other party ofthe enemy that had, in the mean while, ad-vanced to Neafoo, finding the place not underthe command of Lioofau, suspected some de-ception, and made a speedy retreat.