BETE'S DEATH. 269 



diabolical plot he had laid, and that had his father not 

 followed the Consul's advice to act honestly, he would 

 never have been in his power. " I have three balls in 

 my musket for you, Bete ;" he said, " you, who want to 

 kill my father, his son, and all his people, in cold blood." 

 With these words he fired, and two balls lodged in 

 Bete's body ; he died instantly. A great uproar followed ; 

 some of Ritova's friends, and they were numerous, voted 

 for killing all Bete's followers and razing the town. 

 Ritova, who had all the while been on board his canoes, 

 rushed on shore, quelled the excitement by his presence, 

 and harangued the crowd. " People of Naduri," he said, 

 "you who deserted me, your proper chief, when the 

 Tonguese drove him from the land of his forefathers, 

 you may all live ! Were it not for my solemn promises 

 to the British Consul, you would all die this day with 

 the man you followed ; he has told me to spare my ene- 

 mies, therefore, be pardoned ; keep quiet ; I will send 

 for Christian teachers not Tonguese European or 

 Fijian, and we will all endeavour to live in peace, and 

 cultivate agriculture and trade." * 



Everything was going on quietly again when Maafu 

 dispatched his lieutenant, Wai-ni-golo, to Macuata, and 

 troubles at once recommenced. The very excellence of 

 this, the finest district in Fiji, makes these artful and 

 bold Tonguese crave after it so much. Fortunately, 

 about the middle of July, 1861, Commodore Seymour, 

 in H.B.M.S. Pelorus, arrived at Ovalau, and extracts 

 from his dispatch shall carry on the story. 



* ' Athenaeum,' No. 1791, p. 261. Also private letters from residents 

 in Fiji. 



