300 THE CORAL LANDS OF THE PACIFIC. 



which, by the way, were supposed by more scientific observers 

 to be the relics of some marine monster. 



The second story is also one of Cau Moola's, and relates to 

 the enormous lizard he heard of when diplomatically engaged 

 (with troops) in Fiji. The natives of Ban in that group told 

 him that on one occasion when sleeping on the beach, they 

 saw by the light of the moon a gigantic lizard leap out of the 

 water. They were aroused from their slumbers by the screams 

 of one of their companions, whom they afterwards missed. 

 Xext morning a young lad bathing in the sea was snatched up, 

 and a few days later a woman was similarly destroyed. The 

 Fijians were now in arms, and threw stones into the bay. 

 The animal being disturbed rushed out, when he was pursued 

 by a number of men who threw spears at him ; but these 

 were of no avail, as his hard scales proved impenetrable to 

 their weapons. This confirmed them in their original idea 

 that the animal was a god, sent as a punishment for some 

 offence they had committed. After he had destroyed about nine 

 or ten people in the island, an old warrior, who was sceptical 

 as to this animal's divinity, noticed that he came ashore 

 every morning at one particular place, near which he concealed 

 himself. 



Between the beach and the sea was a large tree, and the old 

 man's plan was to procure a long rope, and passing it over a 

 strong branch of this tree, to let one end, at which there was a 

 running noose, hang near the ground, whilst the other end was 

 to be in the possession of about fourteen or fifteen strong men 

 concealed at a little distance in the high grass. When next the 

 lizard-shaped 'god' made his appearance, he rushed towards 

 the veteran, who retired to his station behind the noose. The 

 animal put his jaws through it, the signal was given, and the 

 cord drawn tight. The active Fijians soon commenced to 



