TONGUESE INTRIGUES. 139 



the rain was more heavy than it had been even during 

 the previous one. and we had no option but to return 

 to Tavuki. During the night our interpreter had heard 

 that a circular letter had been received from the Ton- 

 guese chief Maafu, advising his countrymen how to act, 

 so that the policy of England with regard to the cession 

 of Fiji might be frustrated, and the country ultimately 

 fall into the hands of Tonga ; and also that a similar 

 letter had been sent to Bega (Mbenga). The Tonguese 

 teachers in the pay of the Wesley an Society were made 

 the agents for diffusing the burden of the message. 

 When we got back to Tavuki Mr. Pritchard communi- 

 cated what we had heard to Mr. Koyce, and he sent for 

 one of the leading Tonguese teachers, who made no 

 secret of these machinations, and promised to procure 

 the letter received in Kadavu. Ere two hours had 

 elapsed he succeeded, and it is now in the Consulate. 

 Mr. Royce pointed out the impropriety of teachers of 

 the Christian religion allowing themselves to be used 

 as tools in miserable political intrigues; but the Ton- 

 guese said that, however glad to be excused, they could 

 not help themselves, and had to do what their chiefs 

 told them. The doings of the Tonguese form an impor- 

 tant chapter in the history of the Fijis, and will be 

 treated under a separate heading, and I merely mention 

 here this fact, because it has been disputed that the 

 teachers allowed themselves to be used as political 

 agents. 



Tavuki, from being made the centre of the mission of 

 the district, must be regarded as the capital of Kadavu, 

 and is situated in latitude 19 3' 9" south, longitude 



