OF THE TONGA PEOPLE.
2 77
alike ; the grooved side of the mallet is chieflyused first, and the smooth side afterwards.They generally beat alternately : early in themorning, when the air is calm and still, thebeating of gnatoo at all the plantations abouthas a very pleasing effect ; some sounds beingnear at hand, and others almost lost by the dis-tance, some a little more acute, others more-grave, and all with remarkable regularity, pro-duce a musical variety that is very agreeable,and not a little heightened by the singing ofthe birds, and the cheerful influence of thescene. When one hand is fatigued, the malletis dexterously transferred to the other, withoutoccasioning the smallest sensible delay. In thecourse of about half an hour it is brought to asufficient degree of thinness, being so muchspread laterally as to be now nearly squarewhen unfolded; for it must be observed, thatthey double it several times during the process,by which means it spreads more equally, andis prevented from breaking. The bark thusfar prepared is called fctagi , and is mostly putaside till they have a sufficient quantity toenable them to go on at a future time withthe second part of the operation, which iscalled cocanga , or printing with coca. Whenthis is to be done, a number employ themselvesjn gathering the berries of the toe, the pulp