116 



Uea or Wallis Island. 



NEW SOUTH WALES. 



Uea or Wallis Island. 



particularly on those they have conquered. The 

 present " Malo" or government is designated 

 " Malo-to-toa" the gentle government. 



Although there is no supreme authority acknow- 

 ledged in any one individual, yet there are instances 

 of chiefs of districts assuming and maintaining it. 

 The late Tamafago, of whom some account has 

 already been given, was one of these. He assumed 

 the attributes not only of a king, but of a god, and 

 after conquering a rival district on Savaii, he took, 

 as has been stated, the name, " O le Tupu o Savaii" 

 the King of Savaii. After he was killed, Malie- 

 toa succeeded to the same title; but it now confers 

 no power, and is considered merely as compli- 

 mentary. 



Each district and town has its own government. 

 An elderly chief generally presides, or is con- 

 sidered as the head of the village, town, or dis- 

 trict. In these primary fonos or meetings, the 

 affairs are generally discussed by the alii (chiefs) 

 and tulafales (landholders), and what they deter- 

 mine on is usually followed. The great fono, or 

 general assembly, is seldom called, except on 

 matters affecting the whole of the island or dis- 

 trict. The subject is calmly debated, and most 

 thoroughly discussed; the final decision, however, 

 is not by vote, but is adopted after consulta- 

 tion, and is governed by the opinions of the 

 most influential chiefs. It thus appears that 

 these assemblies have little influence upon the 

 course the chiefs may have determined to pursue, 

 and serve chiefly to insure the united action of 

 the district in carrying the designs of the chiefs 

 into effect. The tulu-fauo or decree, promulgated 

 by the council, is to be obeyed, and those who fail 

 are punished by the Malo, being plundered by them 

 of their lands, &c. 



In the descent of the office of chief, the rule of 

 primogeniture is not strictly followed, but the 

 authority and title always remain in the same 

 family. 



It is the custom at the fonos to compliment the 

 head chiefs, and invoke blessings on them in 

 prayers, that their lives may be prolonged and 

 prosperous. I was informed that these assemblies 

 were conducted with much ceremony, but I was 

 much disappointed in the one I witnessed. The 

 forms of proceeding may, however, be different 

 when strangers are not present. The fonos gene- 

 rally begin at an early hour in the morning, and 

 last until late in the afternoon. One of the 

 most pleasing of the ceremonies is that in which 

 the chiefs are supplied with food during the 

 time the meeting is in session. After the food is 

 prepared and dished in fresh banana-leaves, the 

 wives and daughters of the chiefs attire themselves 

 in their best dresses. They then enter the fale- 

 tele, and approach their fathers, husbands, and 

 brothers, &c., before whom they stop, awaiting 

 their instructions as to whom they shall hand the 

 viands. When they have obeyed their directions, 

 they retire. The whole duty is conducted with 

 the utmost decorum, and while it is going on, no 

 conversation is permitted except in a low voice. I 

 learned from the missionaries who had attended 

 some of their meetings, that the manner of speak- 

 ing was good, and the self-possession of the orators 

 remarkable. The speakers generally have persons 

 near them who act as a sort of prompters, and re- 

 mind them of the subjects it is desirable they 

 should speak of. The whole proceedings are con- 

 ducted with the utmost quiet, and no disturbance 

 is allowed. 



CHAPTER XVI. 

 NEW SOUTH WALES. 



DEPARTURE FROM THE SAMOAN GROUP WALLIS ISLAND TUVAI PUT ON SHORE HOORN ISLAND MATTHEWS 1 ROCK 

 REMARKABLE THUNDER-STORM BALL'S PYRAMID PORT JACKSON ENTERED ARRIVAL AT SYDNEY VISIT TO 

 THE GOVERNOR FORT MACQUARIE FATE OF MR. WILLIAMS DESCRIPTION OF THE TOWN OF SYDNEY ITS 

 STREETS ITS RESEMBLANCE TO AMERICAN TOWNS PREVALENCE OF INTOXICATION GOVERNMENT HOUSE 

 DRIVE TO SOUTH HEAD PUBLIC GROUNDS MR. CUNNINGHAM THE BOTANIST IMS MELANCHOLY FATE COUNTRY 

 AROUND SYDNEY GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THAT COLONY ILLAWARRA DROUGHTS AND FLOODS RIVERS OF 

 NEW SOUTH WALES ITS MINERAL PRODUCTS ITS WATER ITS CLIMATE ITS TEMPERATURE PREVAILING 

 WINDS ITS VEGETATION MONOTONY OF ITS SCENERY SOIL OF SYDNEY HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITION 

 NATIVES OF AUSTRALIA THEIR NUMBERS THEIR PHYSICAL TRAITS THEIR CHARACTER THEIR CONFLICTS 

 THEIR CORROBORY DANCES THEIR WEAPONS THEIR MODE OF CLIMBING THEIR SOCIAL SYSTEM THEIR 

 CUSTOM OF "MAKING YOUNG MEN 1 ' THEIR MARRIAGES BURIAL OF THEIR DEAD ARRIVAL OF CONVICT SHIP 

 PRISON FARE ON BOARD EVILS OF THE SYSTEM PUNISHMENTS DEPARTURE FROM SYDNEY PREPARATIONS 

 FOR ANTARCTIC CRUISE. 



ON the 10th of November we weighed anchor 

 from Apia, and made all sail to the westward ; 

 and on the llth had lost sight of Savaii. Officers 

 were stationed for the three following nights to 

 look out for the periodic showers of meteors, but 

 the nights were cloudy, and none were seen. 



On the 12th we made Uea or Wallis Island, and 

 at 3 P.M. were off its southern end, which is 

 situated in latitude 13 24' S., longitude 176 9' 



22" E. Instead of a single island as might be 

 expected from the name, there are nine separate 

 islands, varying in circuit from one to ten miles, 

 and enclosed with one extensive reef. The land 

 is, in general, high. We made a running survey 

 of this group. 



While off Wallis Island, we were boarded by a 

 canoe, in which was a native who spoke a little 

 English. I had thus the means of communicating 



