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TONGUESE INTRIGUES. 139 
the rain was more heavy than it had been even during 
the previous one, and we had no option but to return 
to Tavuki. During the night our interpreter had heard 
that a circular letter had been received from the Ton- 
guese chief Maafu, advising his countrymen how to act, 
so that the policy of England with regard to the cession 
of Fiji might be frustrated, and the country ultimately 
fall into the hands of Tonga; and also that a similar 
letter had been sent to Bega (Mbenga). The Tonguese 
teachers in the pay of the Wesleyan Society were made 
the agents for diffusing the burden of the message. 
When we got back to Tavuki Mr. Pritchard communi- 
cated what we had heard to Mr. Royce, and he sent for 
one of the leading Tonguese teachers, who made no 
secret of these machinations, and promised to procure 
the letter received in Kadavu. Ere two hours had 
elapsed he succeeded, and it is now in the Consulate. 
Mr. Royce pointed out the impropriety of teachers of 
the Christian religion allowing themselves to be used 
as tools in miserable political intrigues; but the Ton- 
guese said that, however glad to be excused, they could 
not help themselves, and had to do what their chiefs 
told them. The doings of the Tonguese form an impor- 
tant chapter in the history of the Fijis, and will be 
treated under a separate heading, and I merely mention 
here this fact, because it has been disputed that the 
teachers allowed themselves to be used as political 
agents. 
Tavuki, from being made the centre of the mission of 
the district, must be regarded as the capital of Kadavu, 
and is situated in latitude 19° 3’ 9” south, longitude 
