OF THE TONGA PEOPLE.

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gnatoo is now laid on it, but not quite so broad,which adheres by virtue of the mucilaginousquality in the die, and this, in like manner, issmeared over ; then a third in the same way;and the substance is now three layers in thick-ness : others are then added to increase it inlength and breadth, by pasting the edges ofthese over the first, but not so as there shall bein any place more than three folds, which iseasily managed, as the margin of one layer fallsshort of the margin of the one under it.During the whole process each layer is stampedseparately, so that the pattern may be said toexist in the very substance of the gnatoo ; andwhen one portion is thus printed to the size ofthe cobechi, the material being moved fartheron, the next portion, either in length orbreadth, becomes stamped, the pattern begin-ning- close to where the other ended. Thusthey go on printing and enlarging it to about.six feet in breadth, and generally about fortyor fifty yards in length. It is then carefullyfolded up and baked under ground, whichcauses the die to become somewhat darker, andmore firmly fixed in the fibre; besides which,it deprives it of a peculiar smoky smell whichbelongs to the coca. When it has been thusexposed to heat for a few hours, it is spreadout on a grass-plat, or on the sand of the sea-