RITOVA. 263 



change of masters. What impressed me most favour- 

 ably with Bitova was, that I once caught him, with his 

 hands at his back, walking up and down in silent medi- 

 tation behind his house, and on inquiry I found that 

 such was his usual habit. Amongst Europeans this may 

 be nothing uncommon, but amongst Fijians, or Polyne- 

 sians in general, it is worth recording. 



Mr. Pritchard opened proceedings by expressing re- 

 gret that Bete had not visited Cakaudrove, where his 

 opinion might have influenced the result arrived at re- 

 garding Macuata affairs. He then told him that, having 

 refused his council, it had been settled without him that 

 Bitova should return to Nukubati, and enjoy the undis- 

 puted rights of his patrimonial estates. Bitova was now 

 called, and though the two chiefs had for many a long 

 year been neighbours, separated by a few miles, they 

 now, for the first time in their lives, shook hands with 

 each other : interested parties on both sides had alw r ays 

 kept up a state of enmity between them. Bete, ad- 

 dressed as Tui (King of) Macuata, according to a pre- 

 vious arrangement with Bitova, was asked to express his 

 views on the subject; but he at once begged that Bitova 

 might take precedence, calling him the "Vunivalu,' 1 

 the highest title he could apply. Bitova expressed his 

 desire to live in peace on his lands, to devote his ener- 

 gies to the development of agriculture and trade ; hoping, 

 at the same time, that all old feuds might be consigned to 

 oblivion. Bete echoed the same sentiments, and had no 

 objection to sign a document to that effect, in which the 

 two chiefs pledged themselves not to attack each other, 

 or set on foot any measure or intrigue that might be at- 



