M E L A N E S I A. 59 



Levuka, the principal town upon it. As this has an excellent harbour, 

 it has of late been much frequented by shipping, and has become the 

 residence of many whites who have taken up their abode among the 

 natives. The chiefs of Mbau have watched with much uneasiness 

 the increase of wealth and power which their subordinate has derived 

 from this source, and, afraid to attack him openly, so long as the re- 

 quired tribute is regularly paid, are constantly employed in intrigues 

 with the chiefs of the smaller towns and districts on the island, to 

 induce them to take up arms against their legitimate ruler, in which 

 case they would call in the intervention of Mbau, and thus give to the 

 latter an opportunity of weakening the strength of their too powerful 

 subject. 



A like game is played with Somusomu, which, though itself a 

 " chief city," owns, as we have before stated, a certain subordination 

 to Mbau, and is said to be spiritually subject (ygali kalou). The real 

 cause of its inferior rank is, of course, its inability to cope with the 

 forces of its spiritual superior. This inability, however, has been 

 diminished of late by an unfortunate step on the part of the present 

 king of Mbau, whose name is Tanoa. About ten years since he 

 became unpopular with the most powerful chiefs in the capital, and a 

 rebellion broke out, headed by members of his own family. The 

 king was compelled to flee, and took refuge in Somusomu, where he 

 was received and defended with much loyalty, and thus enabled, in 

 the end, to overpower the revolted party, and reassume his govern- 

 ment. In requital for this great service, he made over to the chiefs 

 of Somusomu the cluster of windward islands, of which Lakemba is 

 the principal, which had previously been subject directly to Mbau. 

 This great accession of power has so strengthened the government of 

 Somusomu, that its allegiance to Mbau has become very precarious. 

 While we were in the group, a quarrel broke out between Somusomu 

 and the town of Vuna, which is one of its tributaries. Tanoa instantly 

 seized the opportunity to join in the contest, taking part with the 

 rebellious town, in hopes of humbling his formidable dependency. 

 Somusomu thereupon called in the assistance of Mathuata, and the 

 contest was raging when we left the islands.* 



* Captain Wilkes informs me that he has since received information that Tanoa, find- 

 ing his attempt against Somusomu likely to be unsuccessful, suddenly made peace with 

 it, arid fell with all his forces on the ally, Tui-Mathuata, burned several of his towns, and 

 ravaged a great part of his dominions. This notable piece of generalship will give a good 

 idea of the character of Feejeean policy. 



