Mr. Hunt, Mrs. Wilson and myself visited at Bau. We found all the ladies busily employed in preparing for a fancy ball, which was to be held in the evening. Two barbers were dressing the head of Samonunu. Thakombau was amusing himself with a little pop-gun, by-lyly hitting the several ladies of the court. There was as much finery about as would be found in any lady's dressing room who was preparing for a fancy ball at home. A profusion of wild flowers and aromatic shrubs were being arranged into very pretty wreaths. I was truly surprised at the taste displayed by these untutored savages. Some were cutting little ornaments from bright-colored cloth or paper, for the head; others were preparing cocoa-nut oil, scented with sandal wood, to anoint their persons; and several were giving the finishing touch to their best "lekus." While this was going on, some one would receive the contents of Thakombau's pop-gun (which was usually a piece of uncooked yam) upon the top of her nose, lip, or cheek; she would spring and look towards His Majesty, but his attention would be fixed upon some distant object with the most innocent look imaginable.

We called at several other houses, and found all the females similarly employed. At last we called at the house of Tanoa. Here we found the royal captives of Rewa, except the wife of Garenggeo, who had made her escape and joined her husband. The widow of the murdered king was mourning the death of her only son, whom she declares has been poisoned. They were not preparing to engage in the festivities of the coming evening; but the queen and her court were making preparations like the rest. We here partook of some refreshments, page break

Index to Admiralty Published Charts
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page 225consisting of baked tarro and little boiled fish. The natives manufacture a kind of pottery which they call "kurus," in which they cook their food. Their fish is carefully wrapped in fresh green leaves, and boiled in the "kuru." When sufficiently cooked, they are taken from the leaf and placed in order on a Large banana leaf, and the water in which they are boiled is served hot in a cocoa-nut shell. After our banana leaf was spread, Mr. H. asked a blessing, and we proceeded to satisfy our hunger with no other knife or fork except what nature had provided. Our meal was really very nice. At its conclusion, water was brought to wash our hands, and we used our handkerchiefs for napkins. We then visited the king in his little "buri" and departed. The tide being considerably on the ebb, we rode the distance of a quarter of a mile on chairs made of human arms,—our own arms encircling the necks of our carriers. I laughed at Mrs. Wilson, she laughed at me, and Mr, Hunt, who was travelling on the back of a native, laughed at both of us.

Some of Phillips's warriors have killed two of Garenggeo's people, who were brought to Bau yesterday and devoured. In the afternoon Thakombau came on board. He appeared highly displeased that the Consul had located himself at Nuque, under the protection of Phillips. "Well, Mr. Wallis," he said, "they say that the king of America has come here." "Surely he must be much poorer than myself, to come so far for oil for page 226his lamps." "How is it," said Thakombau, "that you do not call yourself a king, or the son of a king? such is the fashion of the captains." "I am the master of this vessel, and hold no other rank. Why should I tell you Iies? The great and rich men of America are never to be seen in Feejee after oil and 'beech de mer,' " said Mr. W. "Ah! these men take us for fools, but we laugh at them when they tell us such stories. Mr. Williams has sent for me to collect a cargo of oil, but I sent word that he must come himself, if he wished me to do any thing for him, as I do not trade with 'kaises.' " He appears to understand human nature, and to appreciate character as well as any one I have seen. One day when we had first arrived at the group, the man Harry was in the cabin with Thakombau and Mr. W. As they were conversing, he made some remarks. The chief turned to him, exhibiting in his whole bearing the utmost "hauteur," and said, "Who are you?—nothing but a runaway sailor, who has no riches but what he earns. You are not to say your own words. When Mr. Wallis tells you to speak, then you may speak." "You black rascal!" muttered Harry in English, "I wish I had you in Virginia, I think the tables would be turned." The man was hushed; he dared not open his mouth again to speak his own words.

A canoe from Ovalau has just passed with the body of a mountaineer lashed to it, which they are taking to Bau to be eaten,—the natives of the coast having killed five of their enemies,—the mountaineers.

Mr. W. hearing that the Bau and Lasakau people had stopped fishing for the bark, went to inquire about it. The chiefs said that they had been informed that "beech de mer" was sold in Manilla for large quantities of gold, and that the Feejeeans were not paid enough for it,—that Capt. Wallis would pay any price rather than not obtain it,—that they had been advised to stop fishing, demand higher prices for their fish, and they would obtain them. Mr. W. replied, "I came here a lad; now my hair is becoming gray. Why am I here now? Rich men do not come here. Should I not remain at home if "beech de mer" brought so great page 230riches? Do you not see that lies have been told vou?" "Yes; you talk wisely," they replied. "We see it now, and we were fools to listen to the lying 'kaise.'"

Mr. W. learned that this had been the work of John Johnson, the survivor of the two with whom the schooner had been left in charge on our departure for Manilla. A written agreement had been signed by those men, that the vessel should be delivered to Mr. W. on his return from M. in good repair, and he was to buy what fish they procured at a handsome profit to themselves. They were to have no other reward. As has been shown, the vessel had been laid up during our eight months' absence, not a fish had been procured, and the schooner had not only been found in the worst possible order, but several things missing; and the crowning of the whole affair was, that Johnson was very angry that Mr. W. would not pay him for doing nothing the past eight months, saying that he could not afford to lose so much time, and threatened vengeance. The above is his first attempt. He seems to forget that Mr, W.'s hair is gray, and that he has visited Feejee previous to the present time. Mr. Williams has written to him, warning him as to his future conduct. Johnson left Salem with us as a sailor, and continued as such till the bark left for Manilla. On our return Mr. W. offered Johnson employment, but he refused it.

The Consul has to-day taken his departure for his residence at Nukulau. This is a small island near Rewa. Mr. Williams told Phillips when he left the isle, (which he has purchased,) that he would rather not have any Feejeeans visit at the place during his absence. The Consul had not been absent long, when Phillips saw a canoe sailing towards Nukulau. He immediately despatched two canoes, with orders to kill all on board.

Two were killed, and the rest escaped by jumping overboard and swimming away. Mr. Williams had not a thought that his wishes would have been so strictly obeyed, and regretted that he had said any thing about it. The canoe belonged to Phillips, and was manned by his own people, who would have obeyed him at once, had he sent word for them not to go to the isle. Phillips is a great coward, but delights in bloodshed and murder. Mr. Wallis once presented him with a large demijohn, which he passed into his canoe, and gave it in charge to two of his people; while they were putting it in a place of safety, they broke it. Phillips immediately made the men chew a quantity of broken glass, which killed them. He then begged for another demijohn. Mr. W. told him that he should give him no more glass to use for such a purpose. He thought, probably, that Mr. W. ought to reward him for the loss he had sustained.

The Feejeeans, in all their transactions with white people, expect payment. The following instances will illustrate my meaning:—A Feejeean at one time had a very troublesome eruption on his arm. He went on board a trading vessel that was here at the time, and requested medical aid. The captain told him that he might remain on board, and he would see what he could do for him. Accordingly the man remained till his arm was cured, and then requested the captain to pay him, that he might return to his home. "For what?" asked the captain. "For staying on board your vessel," was the reply. "What work have you done?" "Nothing." "Who has given you food and cured your arm?" "You have." "Then who should receive pay?" "Myself," was the reply of the grateful native. The man went ashore and set fire to the "beech de mer" house, and destroyed some four or five hundred dollars worth offish.

The second instance came under my own observation. A canoe broke adrift that had been slightly fastened to our bark. Mr. W. let the natives have the jolly boat to go and pick up their own craft. They soon secured the canoe, and returned to the vessel, leaving two natives to bring the boat back. The wind was strong, and the rain poured in torrents. The boat drifted about for some time, when the canoe went to its assistance, and brought it safely to the vessel. The whole party, numbering about twelve, then asked to be paid for bringing the boat back, stating, that it would have been lost had they not saved it.

Three women belonging to Navinde attempted last week to escape to Rewa, but, losing their way, they were returned to Bau. They had, for sometime past, caused him trouble by their bad conduct. They told him that they intended to run away the first opportunity, and he said that if they attempted it, and did not succeed, he should have them shot. Accordingly their dresses were taken off, and they were fastened to stakes on a shoal near Bau, where they remained for marks, to receive the shots of any who chose to fire at them,—the marksmen being stationed on the island. It is said that one of the victims received twelve musket shot in her body before a fatal one.

Females of Bau, who are condemned to death, are usually obliged to suffer a punishment before they are killed that is too horrible to be recorded. The above ex-page 233ecution took place on the Sabbath. Mr. Jaggar started that morning to preach at Bau before he went to the bark, but the wind was strong ahead, their canoe was upset, and they were obliged to relinquish the attempt to reach Bau. He states that he heard the firing of muskets, and had he known of the affair, he should have made another attempt to have reached Bau, when he thinks that he could have saved the lives of the women. It is said that Navinde shut himself up in a little "buri," and no one dared to approach him; and when he appeared, after the women were shot, his face was very pale, and he was exceedingly agitated. Does this not show that there is a monitor within the breast of even a cannibal savage?

The fat brother of the King of Bau died last night; the one whom Tanoa called the pig at the time of his restoration. Mr. W. has just returned from the capital, and says that most of the children were minus a finger joint. The men were throwing mud at the ladies, who, in return for the loving messages, were whipping the men in high glee.

Mr. Umbers, of Solavu, gives me the following account page 235of the late massacre at Ovalau:—"I was in a small schooner lying at anchor about two miles from the island of Ovalau, when we observed fires issuing from eight towns on the coast, and we saw the women and children running in every direction, pursued and killed by their enemies, the mountaineers. Many plunged into the sea, and, by diving, attempted to elude the spears of their adversaries; some reached the vessel, and were saved. The chief of Lavuka, called Tui Lavuka, was one of the victims. His daughter called to him to swim for the reef, which attracted the attention of the savages towards him, and they despatched him immediately. Five white men who were living at Lavuka had their houses burned; one of their wives was killed at the same time. The males belonging to the towns were most of them away, which fact was probably known to the enemy, who chose the favorable opportunity to make their descent and accomplish their designs. About four hundred were killed. One woman swam to our vessel with two children on her back; another came with a basket containing her riches, and had left her children to be destroyed. So sudden and expeditious were the enemy, that, in one hour from the time of the attack, all was quiet."