172 THE OBVISE OF THE 'CUBAQOA.' 



me to intercede for him. I did so ; when the chief dis- 

 missed the case briefly, saying, ' Tell him that no one liates 

 a foreigner ; but tell him tliat every one hates a liar ! ' It 

 is certainly not easy to understand that, where lying is con- 

 demned and considered disreputable, it can also be con- 

 sidered permissible, venial, or reputable to lie. With re- 

 spect to aU or most of these charges, if our verdict cannot 

 be ' Not guilty,' it must in fairness be ' Not proven.' I wiU 

 just add that the observation of the chief cited above, ' Tell 

 him that no one hates a foreigner,' indicates a fact of con- 

 siderable interest in connection with these islanders, and that 

 is, that they have been always ready to welcome foreigners. 

 The strangers' house in Mbau is a curious sight. It is the 

 largest building in the group, lofty, with many doors, and 

 divided inside into a great number of mess places, each with 

 its own lire .'-toves, for the accommodation of the many other 

 tribes who are continually visiting Mbau, either as tribute- 

 bearers, or allies for a war party. 



In connection with tribute-bearing, nothing is more 

 cui'ious than the extremely servile position of the Somo-Somo 

 chiefs in their relations with Mbau, though otherwise persons 

 of importance. When they come to pay their annual tribute 

 to that city, they are not allowed to enter Mbau Bay imtil 

 they have asked permission to do so ; they are then obliged 

 to wait three days before they can approach, and, in doing 

 so, are not permitted either to use their sails, or stand up to 

 .scuU, to evade which last prohibition they engage Tono-ans 

 to work the sculls. On their arrival another humiliation 



