THE TONGA ISLANDS.

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about? “ Follow me,” said he, “ and I will" take-you where you have never been before ;“ and where Finow, and his chiefs and mata-“ booles, are now assembled.” Mr. Mariner,supposing it to be the famous cavern of whichhe had heard some account, without any fur-ther hesitation, prepared* himself to follow hiscompanion, who dived into the water, and heafter him, and, guided by the light reflectedfrom his heels, entered the opening in the rock,and having dived through the passage, whichis about eight or nine feet in letigth, rose intothe cavern. Fie was no sooner above the sur-face of the water than, sure enough, he heardthe voices of the king and his friends: beingdirected by his guide, he climbed upon a jut-ting portion of rock, and sat down. All thelight that came into this place was reflectedfrom the bottom, and was sufficient, after re-maining about five minutes, to show objectswith some little distinctness ; at least he could

* It is proper to mention that in presence of a superiorchief, it is considered very disrespectful to be undrest: undersuch circumstances as the present, therefore, every one re-tires a little, and as soon as he has divested himself of hisusual dress, slips on an apron made of the leaves of the chitree, or of matting called gie : the same, respect is shewn ifit be necessary to undress near a chief’s grave; because somehotooa or god may be present.

VOL. I.

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