THE TONGA ISLANDS.

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cle, among the common people ; for no two re-lations of different rank can sit in the same cir-cle together*. On this account, and out ofrespect to Finow, he being sovereign, ToeOomoo did not make her appearance. Finowbeing seated, his men, as they came in, depo-sited their spears in the middle, of the circle,to be afterwards shared out in the same manneras was done by the Vavaoo people at Neafoothe day before; they then retired to the out-side of the circle, ready to wait upon the com-pany. A large root of cava was then split intopieces, and distributed to be chewed as usual.While the cava was preparing, the provisionswere shared out, ready to be eaten after thecava was drunk, This being done, and theprovisions consumed, a second course of cavawas prepared and served out, of which Finowhaving drunk a small quantity, retired to pay avisit to his aunt. When he arrived in her pre-sence he went up to her, and, with great re-spect, kissed her hand, and she, in return,kissed his forehead t. He then sat down to

* An accurate and full description of the ceremonious re-gulations of a cava party will be given in the second volume.

f When a person salutes a superior relation, he kisses thehand of the party; if a very superior relation, he kisses thefoot: the superior in return kisses the forehead. Theremay be some doubt as to the propriety of the term to kiss inthis ceremony, for it is not performed by the lips after our

Q 2