2/6 FIJI ISLANDS 



of expression, and in this respect very different from that of the 

 ordinary Fijian of lower rank. 



Three chairs were produced, but this was the whole stock in 

 the house, and those of our party without chairs sat on the 

 matted floor. The king reclined on his stomach as before, on 

 his own peculiar mat, at the head of our circle, with his Bible 

 and Prayer Book neatly piled on the right hand front corner of 

 the mat. We said, through our interpreter, that we were glad 

 to see His Majesty looking so well, and explained the nature of 

 the voyage we were making in the "Challenger." I was then 

 deputed to give an account of the wonders of the deep sea. In 

 this subject Thackombau took the liveliest interest, inquiring 

 about what kinds of animals existed in the deep water, evi- 

 dently knowing the shallow-water ones well. He was very much 

 interested in the fact that they are so often blind. He said he 

 could not understand the depth in miles, but comprehended 

 it perfectly in fathoms. 



He then inquired the strength of the various navies, asking 

 after that of England, Germany, France, Russia and America, 

 and wanting to know even the numbers of wooden and iron ships. 

 The information we gave him drew from him the remark that the 

 English were a wonderful people, far greater than the Fijians. 



The house was a large barn-like one of ordinary Fijian struc- 

 ture, with tall open roof, and a sleeping place separated off at 

 one end with a " tappa " curtain. 'J'here was the usual square 

 hearth, with its edging of stone. Overhead were stored the heads 

 of canoe masts. A European chest of drawers, a table, a lamp, 

 and two tin coffee pots, were the only visible articles of 

 luxury. Against the door-post hung a fine club, freshly painted 

 blue, belonging to the king's youngest son. 



We asked the king for a pilot, to take us up the mouth of the 

 Wai Levu, the great river which opens nearly opposite Mbau. 

 He sent out at once to order one for us, and we took our leave 

 of this knowing old Christian, who is currently reported to have 

 partaken of 2,000 human bodies, and is certainly known to 

 have cut out, cooked and eaten a man's tongue, in the man's 

 sight, as a preparation to putting the rest of him in the oven, 

 and that merely to spite the man because he begged hard not 

 to be tortured, but to be clubbed at once. 



The contrast between Thackombau and King George of 

 Tonga was very striking, at least as far as concerns their 

 behaviour before visitors. Thackombau took the liveliest interest 

 in everything, and put question after question, whereas it 

 seemed impossible to interest King George in any subject. He 

 said nothing at all during our interview. Both are warriors of 

 renown, and fought their way to their positions. 



