OF THE TONGA PEOPLE.

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though these diseases in some constitutionsproduce fatal consequences, yet very frequentlythe appetite and strength, and fulness of flesh,remain much the same as if no disease existed,though this happens in pAlla more than in cahi.In respect of the gonorrhoeas to which they aresubject, they are for the most part very mild intheir symptoms, and get well in a few days ;besides which, they are not capable of beingcommunicated between the sexes, or at leastthis is not known or believed to be the case.With regard to the three men of the Port auPrince 's crew, they got well without exactlyknowing when or how: for the consternationoccasioned by the capture of the ship and thedesti'uction of their countrymen, and the alarmand state of anxiety in which they were for atleast two or three days, had produced such achange in the constitution, or at least in thedisease, that it had actually got well beforethey were aware of it. Mr. Mariner inquiredamong some of the oldest men if they had everseen or heard of such a disease as syphilis or ve-nereal gonorrhoea (describing the general cha-racter of it, and how it was communicated),and learnt that a woman, a native of one of theHapai islands, having had connexion wuth oneof the men belonging to a French ship, becameon fire, (as they expressed it), and died after-

vor.. II.

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