OCEANIC MIGRATIONS. 183 



which are, politically, next in importance to Tongatabu. The mere 

 similarity, or rather identity, of names is, of itself, sufficiently re- 

 markable, and when coupled with the assertion of the Feejeeans that 

 the Levuka people are of Tongan derivation, will be admitted to need 

 some explanation. If we suppose that these appellations were those 

 of two principal divisions of the Tonga (or western people) when they 

 resided on Viti, we can understand that the fugitives would be likely 

 to preserve the same names in their new homes, while those of them 

 who remained in Viti, subject to their dusky conquerors, would natu- 

 rally keep together as much as possible, and in this way their mixed 

 progeny might retain somewhat more of Tongan blood, and with it 

 more of the bold, enterprising character of their ancestors, than 

 the other natives. England offers us, in the province of Cornwall, an 

 example of a people, who, though they have forgotten their original 

 tongue, and are much intermingled with their Saxon conquerors, 

 retain yet many of the peculiarities of the Celtic character. 



These are not the only instances of similarity in names between 

 the two groups. Mango, Fotua ( Votua], and Fiva ( Virva), which are 

 the names of islands in Tonga, are also found in Viti. The ruling 

 family of Tonga, whose name is Tubou, have a tradition, as one of the 

 members of it informed us, that this name was originally derived 

 from Tumbou, the principal town on the island of Lakemba. 



3. The mythological history of Ndengei, the principal deity of Viti, 

 appears to refer to events in the early history of the two races. The 

 word Ndengei is supposed by some to be a corruption of the first part 

 of the name Tanga-loa (great Tonga), the chief divinity of Polynesia. 

 He is represented as making his appearance after the islands were 

 peopled. He was first seen on the west coast of Viti-levu, dressed in 

 the malo, a girdle worn after a peculiar fashion. From thence he 

 came to Mbengga, and from Mbengga to Rewa. After remaining 

 there for a time, he removed to Verata, formerly the principal town 

 on the island, leaving Rewa under the government of a Tongan 

 divinity, called Wairua. Now as none of the black tribes, except 

 the Vitians, wear the malo, which seems to be peculiar to the Poly- 

 nesians, it is natural to suppose that the former (the Viti) derived 

 this fashion of dress from the latter. Hence this mythos may be 

 explained as follows. After the Vitians had settled upon and par- 

 tially populated Viti-levu, another people appeared at Ra, on the 

 western coast, wearing the malo, and having for a divinity Tanga-loa. 

 From Ra they advanced to Mbengga, and from Mbengga to Rewa, 



