THE TONGA ISLANDS.

2 41

have some sinister intent: such precaution wasby no means unnecessary, as this species oftreachery, when it can be performed secretly,is not unusual, particularly among great war-riors, when they have some petty interest toconsult. This, however, is not to be consi-dered the natural disposition of the Tonga peo-ple, but a practice which, along with that ofwar, they have learned from the natives of theFiji islands, where a man seldom goes out, evenperhaps with his greatest friend, without beingarmed, and cautiously upon his guard. Mr.Mariner had, therefore, provided himself witha pistol, as a defence against any violent mea-sures on the part of his companion. On theirreturn down the mountain, he told his compa-nion that he might have shot him dead, andnobody would have been the wiser, to whichthe man replied, “ I see you are loto boto*, like“ the Fiji people meaning that he possessedpolicy and caution against treachery; andadded, “as lam unarmed, it is a proof that I“ had no ill design, and therefore did not sus-“ pect any in you.”

Whilst on this island, Mr. Mariner went tosee the grave of an Englishman, John Norton,belonging to the boat of the Bounty, Captain Bligh , whose crew had mutinied. He was led

* Of a wise mind.

VOL. I.

R