244 A MISSION TO VITI. 



again the weaker. In a fight between the hostile par- 

 ties the Christian chapel and the house of the teacher 

 caught fire, and were totally destroyed. Maafu at once 

 set off to avenge the injury done to his countryman, took 

 the side of the weaker party, defeated the stronger ; and 

 then, turning round upon his friends, displaced their 

 rightful chief by one of his own creatures. A similar 

 affray took place at Muala, where Maafu, by hook or 

 by crook, was again victorious. 



In March, 1855, King George of Tonga availed him- 

 self of the opportunity presented by the missionary 

 vessel ' John Wesley,' to pay a visit of state to Cakobau, 

 the supreme chief of Bau, and titular King of Fiji. 

 Cakobau was at that particular time in considerable 

 trouble. Kaba, an important place in the neighbour- 

 hood of his capital, was in open rebellion against him, 

 headed by Eatu Mara ; and as he had but recently lost 

 much of his influence by renouncing heathenism, he 

 felt himself scarcely strong enough to put down Kaba 

 single-handed. In an evil hour he was persuaded to 

 apply to King George for assistance, and the latter rea- 

 dily complied, on being presented with a canoe fifteen 

 fathoms long for the promise of assistance. A large 

 fleet of canoes, and a strong reinforcement of warriors, 

 soon arrived from King George's dominions. By the 

 combined forces of Bau and Tonga, Kaba, to Fijian no- 

 tions an impregnable fortress, was taken (April 7th, 

 1855*), and the authority of Cakobau re-established. 



Maafu and his countrymen had prominently distin- 

 guished themselves on this occasion, and their exploits 



* J. Waterliouse, ' Vali-tah-ah,' pp. 111-121. 



