OF THE TONGA PEOPLE, 267

who follow this profession are sailors: theirmode of catching fish is chiefly with the net,though they sometimes make use of the line andhook.

Langa falle, house-building. Every manknows how to build a house, but those whosebusiness it is have chiefly to erect large houseson maldis, consecrated houses, and dwellingstor chiefs. The general form of their housesis oblong, rather approaching to an oval, thetwo ends being closed, and the 1'ront and backopen; the sloping thatched roof descendingto within about four feet of the ground, whichis generally supported by four posts ; the largerhouses by six, or sometimes more. The chiefart in building a house consists in fastening thebeams, &c. strongly, with plait of different co-lours, made of the husk of the cocoa-nut, insuch a way as to look very ornamental; the co*lours, which are black, red, and yellow, beingtastefully disposed. The thatch of the superiorhouses is made of the dried leaves of the sugar-cane, and which will last seven or eight yearswithout requiring repair. The thatch of thecommon houses is made of matting formed ofthe leaves of the cocoa-nut tree, and whichlasts about two or three years; but being mucheasier to make than the other, it is more fre-quently used. The flooring is thus made: the