Case of the Charles Doggett, an American 

 brig. The Peacock sails for Rewa. 



FEEJEE GROUP. 



Heso'.ution in regard to Vendovi. 

 The Peacock sails for Rewa. 



215 



and other chiefs, led to the suspicion that some 

 mischief was intended; Paddy heard rumours of 

 the great value of the articles on board the hrig, 

 accompanied by hints that the crew was but small, 

 and predictions that it would not be well with her. 

 He also found that a desire was evinced that he 

 should not go further in the vessel. In conse- 

 quence, Paddy, while on the way to Kantavu, 

 mentioned his suspicions to Captain Bachelor, and 

 advised him to be on his guard. When they ar- 

 rived at Kantavu, they proceeded to a small island 

 near its eastern end, where the biche de mar house 

 was erected, and a chief of the island was, as usual, 

 taken on board as a hostage. The day after he 

 came on board, he feigned sickness, and was, in 

 consequence, permitted to go on shore. He de- 

 parted with such unusual exhibitions of friendly 

 disposition, as served to confirm Paddy's previous 

 suspicions; but he felt assured that all would be safe 

 so long as the captain remained on board. 



On the following morning (Sunday), Veudovi 

 came off, saying that the young chief was very sick, 

 and he wanted the captain to come to the biche de 

 mar house, where he said he was, to give him some 

 medicine. In this house eight of the men were 

 employed, of whom two were Sandwich Islanders. 

 The captain was preparing to go ashore with the 

 medicine, when Paddy stepped aft to him, and told 

 him that to go on shore was as much as his life was 

 worth, for he was sure that the natives intended to 

 kill him, and to take all their lives. The captain 

 in consequence remained on board, but the mate 

 went on shore, and took with him the bottle of me- 

 dicine. Vendovi went in the boat, and landed with 

 the mate, but could not conceal his disappointment 

 that the captain did not come also. Paddy now was 

 convinced, from the arrangements that had been 

 made to get the people and boats away from the 

 brig, that the intended mischief was about to be 



consummated. He therefore kept a sharp look-out 

 upon the shore, and soon saw the beginning of an 

 affray, the mate, Mr. Chitman, killed, and the 

 building in flames. The others were also slain, 

 with the exception of James Housman, who had 

 been engaged at the same time with Paddy, and 

 who swam off, and was taken on board. Those in 

 the brig opened a fire from the great guns, but 

 without effect. 



On the following day Paddy was employed to 

 bargain with the natives for the bodies, seven of 

 which were brought down to the shore much mu- 

 tilated, in consideration of a musket. The eighth, 

 a negro, had been cooked and eaten. Captain 

 Bachelor had the bodies sewed up in canvass, and 

 thrown overboard, in the usual manner. They 

 however floated again, and fell into the hands of 

 the savages, who, as he afterwards understood, de- 

 voured them all. They complained, however, that 

 they did not like them, and particularly the negro, 

 whose flesh they said tasted strong of tobacco. 

 The brig then went to Ovolau, where Paddy left 

 her. 



In addition, Paddy told me that lie was sa l i- fled 

 that all the chiefs of Rewa had been privy to the 

 plot, particularly the brothers of Vendovi, and that 

 the whole plan had been arranged before the brig 

 left that island. Vendovi, however, was the person 

 who had actually perpetrated the outrage. 



Having heard this statement, I determined to 

 capture Vendovi, and asked Paddy if he would 

 carry a letter immediately to Captain Hudson, who 

 was then with the Peacock at Rewa. After some 

 hesitation he agreed to do it, if I would give him 

 a musket. I accordingly prepared instructions 

 directing Captain Hudson to make Vendovi pri- 

 soner, and despatched Paddy next morning in a 

 canoe for Rewa. 



CHAPTER XXIV. 



THE FEEJEE GROUP. REWA. 



DEPARTURE OP THE PEACOCK FROM LEVUKA HER ARRIVAL AT THE ANCHORAGE OFF NUKALOU PROGRESS OF 

 HER BOATS IN SURVEYING AMBAU VERATA AND VIWA MISSION OF LIEUTENANT BUDD THOKANAUTO, OR 

 MR. PHILLIPS VISIT OF THE KING AND HIS BROTHERS THE KING SIGNS THE ROLES AND REGULATIONS 

 VISIT OP CAPTAIN HUDSON TO REWA ARRIVAL OF PADDY CONNEL THE KING'S HOUSE HIS MODE OF EATING 

 HIS ENTERTAINMENT OF THE SHIP'S OFFICERS MESSENGER FROM KANTAVU CEREMONY OF AVA DRINKING 

 KING'S CUPBEARER HIS CONVERSATION EXHIBITION OF FIREWORKS NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE ROYAL BREAK- 

 FAST COUNTRY AROUND REWA MBURES NGARANINGIOU'S HOUSE THOKANAUTO'S HOUSE LIKENESSES TAKEN 

 BY MR. AGATE TRIBUTE FROM THE PEOPLE OF KANTAVU LIEUTENANT BUDD EXPLORES THE RIVER VATIA 

 NOU SOURI NATACALLO CAPAVOO FATE OF CHARLEY SAVAGE CORONGANGA NACUNDI NAITASIRI TAVU- 

 TAVU BETHUNE'S POINT MOUNTAIN DISTRICT SAVOU CAPTAIN HUDSON RESOLVES TO TAKE VENDOVI VISIT 

 OF THE KING AND QUEEN VISIT OF NGARANINGIOD THE KING, QUEEN, AND CHIEFS MADE PRISONERS 

 NOARANINGIOU UNDERTAKES TO BRING VENDOVI CASE OP THE CURRENCY LASS DISPOSITION OF THE 

 PRISONERS THEATRICALS FOR THEIR ENTERTAINMENT PHILLIPS RELATES THE HISTORY OF REWA CHA- 

 RACTER OF PHILLIPS RETURN OF NGARANINGIOU WITH VENDOVI LEAVE-TAKING BETWEEN VENDOVI AND 

 HIS BROTHERS VISIT FROM MR. CARGILL SAILING OF THE PEACOCK HER FAILURE TO REACH KANTAVU. 



WHEN the Peacock left the harbour of Levuka for 

 Rewa, it was for the purpose of visiting that town 

 and inducing the king of Rewa to sign the Feejee 

 regulations, and also to carry on the surveys in 

 that quarter. The Peacock left Levuka on the 

 15th May, and reached Rewa at noon the next day. 



The harbour of Rewa is formed by two small 

 islands, called Nukalou and Mukalou, with their 

 attached coral reefs, and has three passages into 

 it. The two southern ones are safe, though narrow, 

 but the northern one is much obstructed with coral 

 lumps. The port is a secure one, and the anchor- 



