THE CANNIBAL OUTBREAK OF 1876. 43 



become as Avell disposed and obedient subjects of Her Majesty 

 as if they had been born of Christian parents, and surrounded 

 with all the traditions of a Christian country. Cannibalism is 

 a thing of the past, and there is no fear of any further rising 

 of the people. Before annexation, insular prejudices, like the 

 clannishness of the tribes, prevented united action ; but now 

 that they are face to face with an imperial power, those few 

 among them who still refuse to accept the Christian loin have 

 not only been reduced to submission, but in the vast majority 

 of cases that submission has been cheerfully given, and they 

 know and feel it to be a great change for the better. 



CHAPTER VI. 



LEVUKA. 



LEVUKA presents a very pretty aspect from the anchorage 

 inside the coral reef surrounding the island of Ovalau. 

 There are two good entrances through this reef, called re- 

 spectively the Levuka and Wakaya Channels, the latter being 

 named after a small but most beautiful island, lately the pro- 

 perty of my friend Dr. Brower, at one time consul for the 

 United States in the group. A noble background of steep 

 hills is covered with luxuriant tropical foliage, whose rocky 

 peaks attain an altitude of something like 1500 feet; two 

 well-defined spurs mark two distinct bays, and then white- 

 painted wooden houses with balconies extend for upwards of a 

 mile. Nestled snugly on the hillsides are the houses of the 

 principal merchants, and the piers running out from the beach 

 tell of the pushing Anglo-Saxon and his trade. 



At the south end of the beach is Xasova, the residence of 



