304 VOYAGE OF H.M.S. HERALD. 
9th of September. A survey of the anchorage was made. The natives 
were very friendly, and we obtained by water a large quantity of yams. 
A "Tongan missionary teacher is established there. After fixing and 
surveying Mumbolitha, a small detached reef between Moala and Ngau 
we anchored on the 12th in Soieke Bay, on the west end of Ngau, 
where we remained a fortnight, and surveyed the neighbourhood. At 
this part of Ngau the natives are mostly do¢w, or nominally so, but else- 
where on the island they are reputed to be the worst cannibals in Feejee; 
they lately killed and ate two people from Levuka, who went there to 
trade. Crossing over to Ovalau, we moored ship off the town or village 
of Levuka, on the 29th, and remained there, with the exception of one 
night at sea, for eight weeks. Ovalau is perhaps the most important 
island of the group, from being the principal seat of trade (insignificant 
though that be), and the head-quarters of most of the white residents 
in Feejee, besides possessing a capital harbour. During our stay à 
survey was made in the boats of Ovalau, its reefs and anchorages, and 
the islands immediately adjacent, as Moturiki, etc. We found the 
Feejees in the same distracted state of petty warfare which we were 
told had existed for several years, and which, I am sorry to say, there 
. Seems no immediate prospect of seeing concluded. Several conferences 
were held on board the * Herald’ at Levuka with a view to settle various 
. points at issue between the native chiefs and the white people, as well 
as between the chiefs themselves; in the latter case with a view of 
assisting to bring about peace. At the last of these Thakambau was 
present, the well-known chief of Mbau, often,-but erroneously, styled 
Tui Viti, or King of Feejee. His political power has been gradually 
declining of late, from causes which it would be needless to mention 
here. His promise to Captain Erskine (which he has kept) has pre- 
vented him from revenging himself,on the whites, who have been con- 
tinnally supplying his enemies with arms and ammunition, and even 
stopped a supply ordered by him from Sydney when within twenty 
: miles of Mbau. ‘He has also recently shown extraordinary moderation 
= restraining his own people from taking any offensive steps in warfare, 
and has not availed himself of several opportunities he had of striking 
sudden and unexpected blows on some of his enemies—as Ratu Mara 
ven Rabulo, for instance—to the great dissatisfaction of his fob — 
5, who are thereby more inclined than formerly to enter into any 
NE NE "This great change in his line of conduct—for no one 
