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nearly retaken; she ran so exceedingly swiftthrough the water, knee-deep, and the youngchief in pursuit of her exerted himself so muchto overtake her, although he was near enoughto knock her down with his club, that he ac-tually fell through fatigue. It must, however,be said in favour of the chief, that the weightof his club was a great disadvantage, whereashis lovely fugitive ran without any incumbrance,for, in her endeavour to quicken her pace, hergnatoo (dress) became loose, and fell from herwaist; this was the only time that she lookedback, from a sense of modesty, to see if it wasrecoverable, but she was under the necessity ofpursuing her flight without it.

The thirteen prisoners were conducted toNeafoo*, though Finow had given orders thatall that should be taken should be killed on thespot. The captors saved their lives, however,partly from motives of humanity, and partly

* They were obliged, however, by the way, to submit tothe will of their captors, for this is always considered athingof course, and not at all an act of brutality. These transac-tions are generally conducted in neighbouring woods, and byno means in an open, public, or outrageous way. In short,notions of delicacy, in respect to the female sex, have a muchhigher influence in the Tonga islands than what would becommonly understood from the accounts of some travellers :among the lower orders, of course, there are abuses everywhere, but these do not constitute the legal customs of acountry.