THE CESSION OF FIJI. 33 



pressed but excited conversation, which contrasted strongly 

 with the silence observed both before and subsequently. 



' The address, of which I enclose a copy and translation, was 

 then read in Fijian by Mr. Carew. 



' After this I proceeded to administer the oath of allegiance 

 to the Queen to each of the ten rokos, reappointing each, with 

 one exception, to his former Government by the delivery of a 

 staff, accompanied by a few words of admonition, with their 

 hands placed within my own. 



' It was curious and interesting to watch them, as each suc- 

 cessively sat before me, with the bulls, or district chiefs of their 

 respective provinces seated behind him. There, somewhat ill 

 at ease, in a place where, though treated with much outward 

 politeness, he is naturally regarded with much bitterness and 

 ill-will, was Maafu the Tongan, the bold and ambitious 

 foreigner who has secured a master's hold upon the half of 

 Fiji; and there were others with whose names I will not 

 weary your lordship, but among whom " the King of the Reefs " 

 (Tui Thakau), with great awe of the oath on his handsome 

 Assyrian face ; the wise and good Tui Bua, the most reflective 

 man and best Governor I have met in Fiji, in countenance re- 

 sembling a Spanish ecclesiastic of the sixteenth century ; and 

 Xa Cagi Levu, the energetic and large-limbed chief of Kan- 

 davu, were perhaps the most remarkable. 



' The ceremony concluded with the formal donation on my 

 part of a large present of cloth to the principal chiefs, and the 

 presentation to me of an address from the native clergy of the 

 district, which, according to a promise made by me to them, I 

 enclose to your lordship in original, that your lordship may 

 see how clear and good a handwriting that of a native Fijian 

 may sometimes be. 



' Cacobau seemed much relieved and in much better spirits 



3 



