THE TONGA ISLANDS.

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tied to his inferior chiefs and matabooles, thatit was his intention to go to the Fiji islands,and he wished them to accompany him withtheir wives and female attendants, but he de-sired them on no account to mention to thelatter the place of their destination, lest theyshould inadvertently betray their intention, andthe governing chief prevent their departure.A large canoe was soon got ready, and everynecessary preparation made for the voyage. Asthey were on the point of departure, they askedhim if he would not take a Tonga wife withhim. He replied, no ! but he should probablyfind one by the way: this they thought a joke,but in obedience to his orders they said nomore, and, every body being on board, theyput to sea. As they approached the shores ofHoonga, he directed them to steer to a certainpoint, and having come close to a rock, accord*ing to his orders, he got up, and desired themto wait there while he went into the sea tofetch his wife; and without staying to be askedany questions, he sprang into the water fromthat side of the canoe farthest from the rock,swam under the canoe, and proceeded forwardinto the sanctuary which had so well concealedhis greatest and dearest treasure. Every bodyon board was exceedingly surprised at hisstrange conduct, and began to think him in-