62 OVOLAU. 



long time in. trying to pinch them up, which of course he found it 

 impossible to do, and showed some vexation on being foiled, nipping 

 his fingers together with great vehemence to catch the metal. 

 His actions resembled those of a monkey ; he kept looking at his 

 fingers, and seemed astonished that they were not wet, and could not 

 be made to understand how it could wet a button, (which I silvered 

 for him,) and not his fingers. He talked a great deal of the regula- 

 tions he had signed. I was desirous of knowing whether he fully 

 understood them, which I found he did. I then asked him if it 

 would not be better for his son Sera to sign them also, as he is 

 understood to be the acting chief; he said " no," that his signing was 

 quite sufficient, and made them binding on all the dependencies of 

 Ambau. He desired me, when his son Seru paid me a visit, to talk 

 hard to him, and give him plenty of good advice, for he was a young 

 man, and frisky ; but he himself was old, and saw things that were 

 good and bad. He said Seru would visit me in a few days, when he 

 returned, as they could not both leave Ambau at the same time. 



The observatory duties were now commenced, and Lieutenant 

 Perry and Mr. Eld were ordered to assist me. I had, while thus 

 employed, ample time to get information from David Whippy, who 

 seemed not only to have acquired the language perfectly, but also a 

 good knowledge of the customs, manners, and habits of the natives. 



Ovolau is divided into four districts, viz., Levuka on the east, 

 Fokambou on the southwest, Barita on the southeast, and Vaki 

 Levuka on the northwest ; besides these, there is the interior or 

 mountainous region, called by the natives Livoni. Levuka is rnbati 

 to the chiefs of Ambau; Fokambou and Barita are ygali to the same 

 power, but Vaki Levuka is ygali to Levuka, whilst the mountainous 

 regions are independent and predatory. The term mbati signifies 

 allies, or being under protection, though not actually subject to it. 

 Ygali expresses that they are subjects, and compelled to pay tribute 

 yearly, or obliged to satisfy the demands of the chiefs, whenever made 

 upon them. 



Tui Levuka is the principal chief of Ovolau ; his authority extends 

 over eight towns on the east side. He is very friendly to the whites, 

 and is represented by them to be a kind-hearted and honest chief : he 

 is between forty and fifty years of age, and has a pleasing countenance; 

 he rules his village with great popularity. It was amusing to see his 

 bewilderment in attending to the various duties and offices he had to 

 perform, in providing the large supplies of food, consisting of yams, 



