Introduction of fire-arms. 

 Reign of Ulivou. 



OVOLAU. 



Accession of Tanoa. 



199 



Ambau is now the most powerful of these dis- 

 tricts, .although it is in itself but a small island on 

 the coast, and connected with Vitilevu ; but it is 

 the residence of most of the great chiefs, and, as I 

 have before observed, Tanoa, the most powerful 

 chief of all the islands, lives there. The original 

 inhabitants of Ambau were called Kai Levuka, and 

 are of Tonga descent. During the absence of most 

 of the natives on a trading voyage to Lakemba, 

 the natives of Moturiki, a neighbouring island, 

 made a descent upon Ambau, and took possession 

 of it, ever since which the Kai Levuka have 

 remained a broken people : they still retain their 

 original name, but are now only wandering traders; 

 they have no fixed place of residence, and are 

 somewhat of the character of the Jews. They 

 reside principally at Lakemba, Somu-somu, Vuna, 

 and occasionally at other islands. Most of the 

 exchange trade is in their hands ; their hereditary 

 chief resides at Lakemba; they are much respected, 

 and when they visit Ambau, they are treated with 

 the best of every thing, in acknowledgment of their 

 original right to the soil. At Ambau there are 

 now two classes, one known by the name of Kai 

 Ambau, or original people of Ambau, and the other 

 as Kai Lasikau, who were introduced from a small 

 island near Kantavu, some sixty years since, to 

 fish for the chiefs; these are considered as inferior 

 to Kai Ambau, but are not exactly slaves. About 

 eight years before our arrival, dissensions arose 

 between these two classes, which resulted in 

 Tanoa's being expelled, and obliged to seek refuge 

 in another part of his dominions. 



According to Whippy, at the commencement of 

 the present century, Bamivi ruled at Ambau ; he 

 was succeeded by his son Ulivou. At this time 

 Verata was the principal city of the Feejees, and 

 its chiefs held the rule : this city or town is about 

 eight miles from Ambau, on Vitilevu ; the islands 

 of Ovolau, Goro, Ambatiki, Angau, and others 

 were subject to it, as was also Rewa. The intro- 

 duction of fire-arms brought about a great change 

 of power; this happened in the year 1809. The 

 brig Eliza was wrecked on the reef off Nairai, and 

 had both guns and powder on board. Nairai was 

 at this time a dependency of Ambau, and many of 

 the crew, in order to preserve their lives, showed the 

 natives the use of (to them) the new instrument. 

 Among the crew was a Swede, called Charley Sa- 

 vage, who acted a very conspicuous part in the 

 group for some few years. These men joined the 

 Ambau people, instructed them in the use of the 

 musket, and assisted them in their wars. The chief 

 of Ambau was at that time Ulivou, who gladly 

 availed himself of their services, granting them 

 many privileges ; among others, it is said that 

 Charley Savage had a hundred wives ! Taking ad- 

 vantage of all the means he now possessed to ex- 

 tend his own power and reduce that of Verata, he 

 finally succeeded, either by fighting or intrigue, in 

 cutting off all its dependencies, leaving the chief of 

 Verata only his town to rule over. 



In the early part of Ulivou's reign a conspiracy 

 broke out against him, but he discovered it, and 

 was able to expel the rebels from Ambau. They 

 fled to Rewa, where they made some show of resist- 

 ance; he however overcame them. They then 

 took refuge on Goro, where he again sought them, 

 pursued them to Somu-somu, and drove them 

 thence. Their next step was to go to Lakemba, in 



order to collect a large fleet of canoes and riches, 

 for the purpose of gaining allies on Vitilevu; but 

 they were again pursued, and being met with at sea, 

 were completely destroyed. This fully established 

 Ulivou's authority, and the latter part of his reign 

 was unmarked by any disturbances or rebellion 

 against his rule. He died in 1829. Tanoa, his 

 brother, the present king, was at this time at La- 

 kemba, on one of the eastern islands, engaged, 

 according to Whippy, in building a large canoe, 

 which he named Ndranuivio (the via-leaf), a large 

 plant of the arum species. When the news 

 reached him he immediately embarked for Am- 

 bau, and on his arrival found all the chiefs 

 disposed to make him king. It is said that 

 he at first refused the dignity, lest "they should 

 make a fool of him ;" but by promises and persua- 

 sion he was induced to accede. Preparations were 

 accordingly made to install him. This ceremony 

 is performed by the Levuka people, the origina 

 inhabitants of Ambau, uniting with those of Kamba, 

 inhabiting a town near Kamba Point, the most 

 eastern point of Vitilevu, and about ten miles east 

 of Ambau. As soon as the chiefs of Ambau have 

 elected a king, they make a grand ava party, and 

 the first cup is handed to the newly-elected chief, 

 who receives the title of Vunivalu. Some time 

 after this, the Kamba and Levuka people are 

 called in to make the installation, and confer the 

 title of royalty. It is related, that while the pre- 

 parations for this ceremony were going on, the 

 chiefs of Ambau were restless, and determined to 

 make war upon Rewa, a place always in rivalry, 

 about fifteen miles distant from Ambau, to the 

 south. Tanoa, however, was well disposed towards 

 the people of this district, being a Vasu of Rewa. 

 There are three kinds of Vasus, Vasu-togai, Vasu- 

 levu, and Vasu. The first is the highest title, and 

 is derived from the mother being queen of Ambau. 

 Vasu-levu is where the mother is married to one 

 of the great chiefs of Rewa, Somu-somu, or 

 Muthuata, and the name of 'Vasu extends not only 

 to the minor chiefs, but also down to the common 

 people. It confers rights and privileges of great 

 extent, and is exclusively derived from the mother 

 being a high chief or wife of some of the reigning 

 kings. It gives the person a right to seize upon 

 and appropriate to his own use any thing belonging 

 to an inhabitant of his mother's native place, and 

 even the privilege of taking things from the 

 sovereign himself, and this without resistance, 

 dispute, or hesitation, however much prized or 

 valuable the article may be. In the course of this 

 narrative, some instances of the exercise of this 

 power will be related. Tanoa therefore used all 

 his efforts to prevent an outbreak, but without 

 success, and he was compelled to carry on the war. 

 He, however, secretly gave encouragement, and, it 

 is said, even assistance, to the opposite party ; this 

 becoming known, produced much difficulty and 

 discontent among the Ambau chiefs and people. 

 Notwithstanding this, he at length contrived to 

 bring about a truce, and invited many of the Rewa 

 chiefs and people to visit him, whom he received 

 with great distinction. This incensed his new sub- 

 jects very much ; and on his presenting to the late 

 enemy his new and large canoe, Ndranuivio, their 

 indignation was greatly increased, and caused some 

 of them even to enter into a plot to murder him. 

 Among the conspirators were the head chiefs, Seru 



