COMMODORE SEYMOUR’S VISIT. 971 
for which this district was formerly famous, and almost daily 
put one or more persons to death, whose only crime was being 
related to the vanquished party. In these outrages the Ton- 
gans were the most prominent actors ; and I may here state my 
opinion, that in the event of her Majesty’s Government accept- 
ing the Fijis, it will be necessary, from the very first, to put a 
stop to the raids which the Tongans have for the last five years 
been in the habit of carrying into the various islands lying to 
the west of Lakeba. 
“On the morning of the 20th I sent over to the island of Kia 
for Ritova, the chief of the tribe which had been driven out of 
Macuata, and in the afternoon he came on board in a cutter of 
the ‘ Pelorus,’ followed by fifteen canoes filled with his retainers. 
After he had had an hour’s conversation with Cakobau and Maafu, 
we made a preconcerted signal, on seeing which Wai-ni-golo, 
Maafu’s lieutenant, and two Fijian chiefs, came on board; and 
after they and their opponents had discussed matters for an 
hour, I told them, through the consular interpreter, that we 
had no wish to injure or interfere with either the Fijians or 
Tongans in any way; but that, owing to the senseless quarrels 
of the former, fomented by the latter, the interests of the white 
traders in Fiji were compromised, and that I was determined on 
putting a stop to a state of affairs which was equally prejudicial 
to their own and to British interests. I should therefore leave 
them to settle, by what means they could arrange, matters 
amongst themselves, and any advice I could give them was at 
their service. My observations were listened to with attention 
by both parties of Fijians, but were evidently unsatisfactory to 
the Tongan chief, who, throughout the entire business, was less 
manageable than either his associates or his enemies. 
“The discussion, which terminated at sunset, was renewed 
the next day, when the following terms were agreed to by the 
chiefs of Fiji and Tonga present, being those which, with Mr. 
Pritchard’s concurrence, I had decided from the first on seeing 
carried out :— 
“ Between Ritova and Bonaveidogo, chiefs of Fit. 
“Ist. To forget all past grievances and causes of quarrel. 
