97 



CHAFFER VI. 



STAY AT NAVUA. CHIEF KUKUDUADUA's HOUSEHOLD. " HARRY THE JEW." 



A PRINCE AS HE WAS BORN. MASSACRE PREVENTED. KURUDUADUA's 



CHARACTER. STATEMENT OF MR. HEEKES RESPECTING THE NAMUKA 



OUTRAGE. TOWN AND BURES OF NAVUA. TATOOING. RETURN TO LADO. 



WE were soon at Navua, a town some three miles up 

 the river, and the residence of Kuruduadua, the great 

 chief of this district. The messenger dispatched from 

 our last halting-place having announced our visit, we 

 found the chieftain seated in his large house, sur- 

 rounded by councillors and attendants, awaiting his 

 guests. As he and his territory are little known to the 

 whites, our arrival created some sensation. The cere- 

 mony of presentation is novel. On entering the house, 

 Charles Wise, our interpreter and guide, as already 

 schooled, addressed the chief to the effect that the 

 Consul had come to introduce a chief from England, 

 who had been sent to explore the country; and that 

 we purposed doing ourselves the honour of being his 

 guests for several days. After a few minutes' silence, 

 the chief orator replied, in the name of Kuruduadua 

 (it would have been against Fijian etiquette for the 

 latter to address us personally at the first formal visit), 

 that the stranger chief and the Consul were welcome, 



H 



