406 A MISSION TO VITI. 



T.Williams* thought him to have been one of a number 

 of convicts who in 1804 effected their escape from New 

 South Wales ; but, according to more authentic informa- 

 tion,f he was an honest sailor belonging to the American 

 brig 'Eliza,' wrecked in Fiji in 1808, and of which Dil- 

 lon was mate. He seems to have possessed some redeem- 

 ing qualities, was acknowledged as a head-man b.y the 

 companions of his own race, and acquired great ascen- 

 dency at Ban, the capital of the group. Up to this time 

 the natives seem to have solely depended upon clubs, 

 spears, and slings, for success in intertribal wars. The 

 foreigners who had now come amongst them taught 

 them the use of fire-arms, rendering the teachers highly 

 welcome allies to the states then struggling for supre- 

 macy in the group. Bau and Rewa received them with 

 open arms, and in return for their alliance gratified all 

 their whims and demands, of whatever nature they might 

 happen to be. From the ascendency thus acquired, it 

 would have seemed that the absolute government of the 

 whole Fijis lay within their grasp, if their ambition, rising 

 beyond a life of indolence, had prompted them to con- 

 solidate and improve the power thus won ; however, 

 this was far from being the case. There is good proof 

 that Savage at least made a fair attempt to take advan- 

 tage of these favourable circumstances. Firmly esta- 

 blishing himself at Bau, in the very heart of the most 

 powerful Fijian state, he exacted all the honours paid 

 to exalted chiefs, and, knowing that no man can attain 



* ' Fiji and the Fijians/ p. 3. 



t Dillon, ' Discovery of the Fate of De la Perouse,' vol. i. ; Captain 

 I. Erskine, ' Western Pacific,' p. 197. 



