FIJI ISLANDS. 



327 



form, with two deep broad ditches encircling it, a zone of fiat 

 ground intervening between these. Narrow cross banks on 

 opposite sides of the village lead across the ditches. Formerly 

 all Fijian towns were fortified. Those in the Rewa district 

 appear to have been remarkable for their strength,* especially a 

 town called Tokotoko, where there was a perfect labyrinth of 

 moats and ditches. 



The people of Nakello, a large village, about two miles from 

 Nadawa, according to Jackson's Narrative, were peculiar amongst 

 the Fijians for not eating human flesh; it being forbidden 

 "tambu" with them. In the centre of Nakello are the 

 tombs of two chiefs. They consist of two large tumuli of 

 earth, adjoining one another, one being older than the other. 

 The older tumulus is oval in form, about 20 yards in dia- 

 meter at the base, with sloping sides, and about 10 feet in 

 height. At the top is a flat circular space, which is en- 

 closed by a wall formed of slabs of coral and coral rock, set 

 on edge ; none of the slabs being very 

 large. Another line of slabs sur- 

 rounds the mound about halfway up, 

 and here there is a sort of step on 

 the side of the mound. "Within the 

 upper circle of stones are some slabs 

 of Tree-fern stem set on end like the stones. The more recent 

 mound has no circles of stones, and is oblong in form. 



Our object in visiting Nakello was to be present at a grand 

 dancing performance, which happens in each district only once 

 a year, and which we were lucky enough to arrive just at the 

 right time to see. The dance takes place on the occasion of 

 the collection of the contributions made to the Wesleyan Mis- 

 sionary Society, by the natives. Such dancing performances 

 used always to be held when the annual tribute was paid over 

 to the chiefs, and dancing on their collection days has been 

 encouraged by the missionaries. The policy of the Wesleyan 

 Society pursued in Fiji is very different from that maintained by 

 the missionaries in Tonga, where dancing is suppressed. 



SECTION OF TUMULCS AT NAKELLO. 



1 Lower circle of stones ; 2 upper circle 

 3 Tree-fern stems. 



* Capt. Erskine's " Islands of Western Pacific." App. A, p. 459. 



