98 THE CBUISU OF THE ' CUBAQOA: 



delicate blue and green, over every part of the walls and 

 vaulted roof. At the innermost end of the cave there is an 

 upward slanting passage over rocks and under arches, the 

 further end of which is lighted by some direct communica- 

 tion with the open air above. One or two of our men 

 scrambling up to explore the place, now in sight, now 

 hidden from view, almost comically reminded one of the 

 " Robber's Cave " business in an opera. The next cave we 

 visited was smaller and less remarkable. We then made 

 sail before the wind to a cave with a submarine entrance. 

 This is the scene of tlie romantic adventure in Byron's 

 poem, " The Island," wherein it is well described under the 

 name of '' Neuha's Cave." The native tradition is that the 

 family of a certain chief having been condemned to exter- 

 mination for rebellion, one of the daughters, a very beautiful 

 girl, was prevailed upon by her lover to accompany him by 

 night to this cave, which he had accidentally discovered 

 not long before, Avhile diving for turtle. Here he kept her 

 cojicealed, visiting her nightly with food and fi'esh water, 

 till an opportunity occurred of escaping together by canoe 

 to the Fiji Islands, where they remained undisturbed in their 

 connubial bliss, till the death of the Tongan viceroy 

 enabled them to return to Vavau. Two sticks placed 

 crosswise over a ledge of rock marked the position of the 

 entrance to the cave, which would have otherwise been 

 very difficult to discover ; for above water there was no 

 sign whatever of an opening, nothing but an unbroken and 

 almost overhanging cliff. When, on the boats stopping, the 



