FEUDS AT NADROGA. 93 



but they informed me, through the interpreter, that 

 the missionaries desire them not to dance nor practise 

 any more their game of throwing canes, after the yams 

 have been planted. They said they should sing instead, 

 and forthwith commenced. I let them go on till they 

 came to a " meke, " or song, in which they mimicked the 

 missionaries; I then stopped them by wishing them 

 " good night." 



Most of our crew passed the night on shore, and Mr. 

 Pritchard and I slept in the consular gig, anchored close 

 to the shore. Early next morning we were awoke by 

 the arrival of a large canoe from Nadroga. The man in 

 charge came to ask the Consul's advice about making 

 peace with the heathens who had for several months 

 made war upon Nadroga for becoming Christian. They 

 had only ten towns, six of which had been taken by the 

 heathens, and several inhabitants been baked and eaten. 

 The Nadroga people had only captured two towns, and 

 now feared they could not hold out much longer unless 

 Christian natives of other districts hastened to their as- 

 sistance. They were now going to Rewa and Ovalau, to 

 ask for such assistance, and had with them a lot of tor- 

 toiseshell, to be exchanged for muskets and powder. Mr. 

 Pritchard told them that he should visit them in about 

 a month, and then use his influence to restore peace. 

 I may as well add in this place, that he did so in August, 

 with Colonel Smythe, and that they conjointly sent a 

 messenger to the heathens, inviting their chiefs to an in- 

 terview. The messenger was received with blows, and 

 told it was fortunate that he had come by himself. If 

 two had been dispatched, one would have been sent back 



