OF THE TONGA PEOPLE.

225

degree of credit, and charms, which they some-times practise, are more or less connected withtheir religion, we shall say something of them,before concluding the present subject. Mostof their omens we have already had occasion tomention, and have given instances of in thecourse of the narrative. As to dreams, (seeVol. I. chap. 4 and 14 .) Thunder and light-ning (same vol. chap. 12 and 14 .) Sneezing(same vol. chap. 14 .) These omens obtain al-most universal credit; and they are thought tobe direct indications from the gods of someevent that is about to happen. There is a cer-tain species of bird which they call chicota',which is very apt to make a sudden descent,and dart close by one, making a shriekingnoise: this bird they suppose to be endowedwith a knowledge of futurity, and they considerthis action to be a warning of some evil that isabout to happen.

As Mr. Mariner was once going out with thepresent king, and a party of men, upon someexcursion against the enemy, one of these birdsmade a sudden descent, passed over their heads,settled on a tree, passed over their heads again,and again settled; upon which the majority,not excepting the king, were for returning im-mediately; but Mr. Mariner laughed at theirsuperstition, and, to prove that the bird had no

vol. ir. Q