RITOVA’S PLACE OF EXILE. 259 
mised to do in his own peaceable way what would have 
cost numbers of lives if done in Fijian usage. When the 
natives found they need no longer fear being called 
to account by Maafu’s bullies, they openly rallied round 
Ritova. Tui Cakau, the ruling chief of Cakaudrove, 
offered his largest canoe, a recent present from Bau, 
for Ritova’s use; and his brother Ratu Golea, chief of 
‘Somosomo, insisted upon seeing the exile safe home. 
Knowing the effect produced on the native mind by 
acting with promptitude, the next morning was fixed 
for starting. At sunrise, the schooner ‘ Paul Jones’ 
fired a gun by way of signal, and steered for Matei, fol- 
lowed by the native canoes, and having on board, besides 
Mr. Pritchard and myself, Ritova and three of his adhe- 
rents. One of the latter was a young man, whose father 
was a strong supporter of Bete, Ritova’s rival; and it 
was probably with the approbation of his parent that 
he joined Ritova—the Fijian knowing, as well as people 
nearer home did in the time of the rebellion, that it 
it is rather politic if, in a doubtful quarrel between two 
pretenders, the father fight on one side, the son on the 
other, when, come what may, the family property is safe, 
and there is always one to intercede for the captive. 
Owing to the calms nearly always prevailing in the 
Straits of Somosomo, Matei was not reached until the 
second day after our departure, when Ritova went on 
shore to inform his people of what had passed, and 
order them to get ready for starting without delay for 
Nukubati. Great was the joy caused by this announce- 
ment, and everything was at once bustle and activity. 
The women were packing up the household goods; the 
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