244 A MISSION TO VITI. 
again the weaker. In a fight between the hostile par- 
ties the Christian chapel and the house of the teacher 
caught fire, and were totally destroyed. Maafu at once 
set off to avenge the injury done to his countryman, took 
the side of the weaker party, defeated the stronger; and 
then, turning round upon his friends, displaced their 
rightful chief by one of his own creatures. A similar 
affray took place at Muala, where Maafu, by hook or 
by crook, was again victorious. 
In March, 1855, King George of Tonga availed him- 
self of the opportunity presented by the missionary 
vessel ‘ John Wesley,’ to pay a visit of state to Cakobau, 
the supreme chief of Bau, and titular King of Fiji. 
Cakobau was at that particular time in considerable 
trouble. Kaba, an important place in the neighbour- 
hood of his capital, was in open rebellion against him, 
headed by Ratu Mara; and as he had but recently lost 
much of his influence by renouncing heathenism, he 
felt himself scarcely strong enough to put down Kaba 
single-handed. In an evil hour he was persuaded to 
apply to King George for assistance, and the latter rea- 
dily complied, on being presented with a canoe fifteen 
fathoms long for the promise of assistance. A large 
fleet of canoes, and a strong reinforcement of warriors, 
soon arrived from King George’s dominions. By the 
combined forces of Bau and Tonga, Kaba, to Fijian no- 
tions an impregnable fortress, was taken (April 7th, 
1855*), and the authority of Cakobau re-established. 
Maafu and his countrymen had prominently distin- 
guished themselves on this occasion, and their exploits 
* J. Waterhouse, ‘ Vah-tah-ah,’ pp. 111-121. 
