1770* ROUND THE WORLD. 2f>9 



mon integrity and abilities, as, notwithstanding his 

 possession of power in the character of a favourite, 

 he was beloved by the whole principality. If any 

 difference arises among the people, it is settled by 

 the raja and his counsellors, without delay or appeal, 

 and, as we were told, with the most solemn delibe- 

 ration and impartial justice. 



We were informed by Mr. Lange, that the chiefs 

 who had successively presided over the five princi- 

 palities of this island, had lived for time immemorial 

 in the strictest alliance and most cordial friendship 

 with each other ; yet he said the people were of a 

 warlike disposition, and had always courageously de- 

 fended themselves against foreign invaders. We 

 were told also, that the island was able to raise, upon 

 very short notice, 7300 fighting men, armed with 

 muskets, spears, lances, and targets. Of this force, 

 Laai was said to furnish 2600, Seba 2000, Regeeua 

 1500, Timo 800, and Massara 400. Besides the 

 arms that have been already mentioned, each man is 

 furnished with a large pole axe, resembling a wood 

 bill, except that it has a straight edge, and is much 

 heavier : this, in the hands of people who have 

 courage to come to close quarters with an enemy, 

 must be a dreadful weapon ; and we were told that 

 they were so dexterous with their lances, that, at the 

 distance of sixty feet, they would throw them with 

 such exactness as to pierce a man's heart, and such 

 force as to go quite through his body. 



How far this account of the martial prowess of the 

 inhabitants of Savu may be true, we cannot take upon 

 us to determine ; but during our stay, we saw no ap- 

 pearance of it. We saw indeed in the town-house, 

 or house of assembly, about one hundred spears and 

 targets, which served to arm the people who were 

 sent down to intimidate us at the trading place ; but 

 they seemed to be the refuse of old armories, no two 

 being of the same make or length, for some were six, 

 and some sixteen feet long : we saw no lance among 



