246 A MISSION TO VITI. 



Fiji on the 10th of September, 1858, to take up his 

 permanent abode in this important group. Bau was 

 again in trouble. For various outrages asserted to have 

 been committed against the life and property of Ame- 

 rican citizens, the Government of the United States de- 

 manded indemnity from Cakobau, as supreme chief of 

 Bau and titular King of Fiji. The corvette ' Vandalia,' 

 Captain Sinclair, had been sent to enforce the claim, 

 and as the sum of 45,000 dollars was altogether beyond 

 the means of the Fijian King to pay, overtures were 

 made to Mr. Pritchard for the cession of Fiji to Great 

 Britain, on condition that this sum, which the natives 

 were going to refund by assigning the proprietorship of 

 200,000 acres of land, be liquidated. In November, 

 1858, Mr. Pritchard departed home to lay this offer be- 

 fore her Britannic Majesty's Government, and no sooner 

 had he left the group than Maafu commenced operations. 

 Eitova and Bete, chiefs of the Macuata coast of Vanua 

 Levu, were fighting out some old family feuds. Bete, 

 being worsted, concluded an alliance with Tui Bua, an- 

 other chief of importance on the south-western coast 

 of Vanua Levu, who owed Eitova a grudge for a defeat 

 in a former war. But even thus strengthened, Bete was 

 unable to cope with his rival. Maafu saw that here 

 was his chance. Friendly messages were dispatched to 

 Eitova, who, delighted with the moral support of so 

 powerful a chief, forwarded sail-mats and other valu- 

 able presents. At the same time Maafu sent messages 

 equally friendly, but more sincere, to Tui Bua, and 

 through the Tonguese residing there prompted him to 

 apply for assistance against Eitova. This idea was no 



