66 OVOLAU. 



chiefs of Ambau have elected a king, they make a grand ava party, 

 and the first cup is handed to the newly elected chief, who receives 

 the title of Vunivalu. Some time after this, the Kamba and Levuka 

 people are called in to make the installation, and confer the title of 

 royalty. It is related, that while the preparations for this ceremony 

 were going on, the chiefs of Ambau were restless, and determined to 

 make war upon Rewa, a place always in rivalry, about fifteen 

 miles distant from Ambau, to the south. Tanoa, however, was well- 

 disposed towards the people of this district, being a Vasu of Rewa. 

 There are three kinds of Vasus, Vasu-togai, Vasu-levu, and Vasu. The 

 first is the highest title, and is derived from the mother being queen 

 of Ambau. Vasu-levu is where the mother is married to one of the 

 great chiefs of Rewa, Somu-somu, or Muthuata, and the name of 

 Vasu extends not only to the minor chiefs, but also down to the com- 

 mon people. It confers rights and privileges of great extent, and is 

 exclusively derived from the mother being a high chief or wife of 

 some of the reigning kings. It gives the person a right to seize upon 

 and appropriate to his own use any thing belonging to an inhabitant 

 of his mother's native place, and even the privilege of taking things 

 from the sovereign himself, and this without resistance, dispute, or 

 hesitation, however much prized or valuable the article may be. In 

 the course of this narrative, some instances of the exercise of this 

 power will be related. Tanoa therefore used all his efforts to prevent 

 an outbreak, but without success, and he was compelled to carry on 

 the war. He, however, secretly gave encouragement, and, it is said, 

 even assistance, to the opposite party; this becoming known, produced 

 much difficulty and discontent among the Ambau chiefs and people. 

 Notwithstanding this, he at length contrived to bring about a truce, 

 and invited many of the Rewa chiefs and people to visit him, whom he 

 received with great distinction. This incensed his new subjects very 

 much ; and on his presenting to the late enemy his new and large 

 canoe, Ndranuivio, their indignation was greatly increased, and 

 caused some of them even to enter into a plot to murder him. 

 Among the conspirators were the head chiefs, Seru Tanoa, Komai- 

 vunindavu, Mara and Dandau, of Ambau, Ngiondrakete, chief of 

 Nikelo, and Masomalua, of Viwa. Tanoa, on being advised of this, 

 took no means to frustrate their plans openly, but appears to have 

 been somewhat on his guard. 



In the third year of his reign, whilst on a visit to Ovolau to attend 

 to his plantation of yams, the rebellion broke out, of which he was 

 soon advised, and fled to Goro, where his enemies followed him ; but 



