246 A MISSION TO VITI. 
Fiji on the 10th of September, 1858, to take up his 
permanent abode in this important group. Bau was 
again in trouble. For various outrages asserted to have 
been committed against the life and property of Ame- 
rican citizens, the Government of the United States de- 
manded indemnity from Cakobau, as supreme chief of 
Bau and titular King of Fiji. The corvette ‘ Vandalia,’ 
Captain Sinclair, had been sent to enforce the claim, 
and as the sum of 45,000 dollars was altogether beyond 
the means of the Fijian King to pay, overtures were 
made to Mr. Pritchard for the cession of Fiji to Great 
Britain, on condition that this sum, which the natives 
were going to refund by assigning the proprietorship of 
200,000 acres of land, be liquidated. In November, 
1858, Mr. Pritchard departed home to lay this offer be- 
fore her Britannic Majesty's Government, and no sooner 
had he left the group than Maafu commenced operations. 
Ritova and Bete, chiefs of the Macuata coast of Vanua 
Levu, were fighting out some old family feuds. Bete, 
being worsted, concluded an alliance with Tui Bua, an- 
other chief of importance on the south-western coast 
of Vanua Levu, who owed Ritova a grudge for a defeat 
in a former war. But even thus strengthened, Bete was 
unable to cope with his rival. Maafu saw that here 
was his chance. Friendly messages were dispatched to 
Ritova, who, delighted with the moral support of so 
powerful a chief, forwarded sail-mats and other valu- 
able presents. At the same time Maafu sent messages 
equally friendly, but more sincere, to Tui Bua, and 
through the Tonguese residing there prompted him to 
apply for assistance against Ritova. This idea was no 
