248 A MISSION TO VITI. 
daunted, retreated to the mountains at the back of Nu- 
kubati, where he was regularly besieged. But fate was 
against him. Chief Bonaveidogo, one of his followers, 
at this critical time went over to Maafu’s side, to save his 
life and that of his vassals; and Ritova, finding further 
resistance on the Macuata coast hopeless, escaped with 
the remnant still firm to him across the mountains to 
Solevu, where Tui Wai Nunu, a chief friendly to him, 
resided. 
Solevu (Sualib, of Wilkes) is a little district on the 
southern side of Vanua Levu, between Bua and Cakau- 
drove, which acknowledged a sort of vassalage to Bau, 
but was otherwise independent. In order to humour 
Tui Bua, who was eager to annex this district to his 
territories, Maafu had promised to subject it for him, 
and with that view had already left in it a detachment 
of men. By Ritova’s retreat to this very district, a fine 
opportunity of killing two birds with one stone pre- 
sented itself. Rounding the western parts of Vanua 
Levu, the allied forces appeared before the town of So- 
levu, which, being strongly fortified, held out against 
the invaders three whole months. At the end of that 
time, the besieged were in extreme want of fresh water, 
the besiegers having diverted a rivulet supplying the 
town from its course, and all the wells being dry. Un- 
able to hold out any longer, Solevu surrendered. When 
Ritova and Tui Wai Nunu heard this news, they per- 
ceived it was hopeless to prolong the struggle. Mean- 
while Maafu had caused it to be known that he had 
promised Mr. Swanston, the acting British Consul, to 
spare Ritova’s life, if he were taken. Ritova therefore 
