186 



CHAPTER XII. 



STAY AT NAMOSI PROLONGED. THE GOVERNOR'S ATTENTION. " CROWN 



JEWELS." THE CLERK OF THE WEATHER. SORCERERS. FIJIAN FAMILY 

 LIFE. STORY-TELLERS POPULAR. A FIJIAN TALE. 



THE people were highly pleased when they heard of my 

 resolution to stay some time longer with them, and 

 treated me with great cordiality. Batinisavu,* one of 

 the younger brothers of Kuruduadua, who is the gover- 

 nor of Namosi, was never tired of showing me atten- 

 tion, and shooting ducks and fowls for me, or making 

 different kinds of puddings, on the excellence of which 

 he prided himself. Chiefs always make it a point to 

 excel in everything they undertake ; and this is no 

 doubt one of the reasons why they maintain their ascen- 

 dency over the people. They build canoes, houses, or 

 temples, in a style and with a finish to which the lower 

 order cannot come up; in agriculture they take the 

 lead ; in fighting, rowing, pulling, racing, and all manly 

 exercises, they are patterns for imitation ; in the history, 

 legendary lore, and traditions of the country, they carry 

 off the palm ; they know every rock, river, plant, and 

 animal, by its local name, and can give some account of 

 everything connected with them. If to all this be added 



* Batinisavu, literally, the edge of a waterfall. 



