192 THE CORAL LANDS OF THE PACIFIC. 



4 The fellow who said " I care nothing who makes the laws of 

 ;i country, let me make its ballads," would form rather a poor 

 estimate of Fiji, I'm afraid,' remarked our host. ' Parsons, of 

 the police force, came out with a song once describing annexa- 

 tion. You all know wonga means a boat or yacht. Well, this 

 is how Parsons put old King Cacobau's claims : 



* " Now this is what the King said to the Commodore, 



In the presence of the Fiji chiefs at T'tonga, 



If your Queen she wants these islands make it right with me before, 

 A thousand pounds per annum and a wonga." ' 



' Shall we sail up the bay to-morrow as far as Valaga, and 

 give the Dods and Pillans a look in f asked Mr. Chippindall. 



' By all means,' was the chorus of replies. 



' Well, we'll have to start early, as I have got a meke-mckc 

 for you fellows in the evening, and we may have to be pulled 

 back all the way.' 



' There's going to be some cricket at Valaga next week, and 

 we'll all have to go,' broke in Cooper lattai ; in other words, 

 .smaller Cooper, my brother. ' It won't be elevens though, as 

 there are not fifteen white men in the bay.' 



'The beds are all ready mosquito-curtains and all. It's 

 getting quite late, and a trifle chilly ; let us turn in.' 



We followed this advice, knocked the ashes from our pipes, 

 and so ended our evening at Wai-Wai. 



CHAPTER XXII. 



SAVU SAVU TO TAVIUNI. 



MR. PILLANS and the kindly Dods offered us a hearty welcome, 

 but for any amount of hospitality we were prepared. The 



