gg O V O L A U. 



pected event, the Lasikaus rose and attacked them. A severe contest 

 ensued ; but it is said the fishermen, having built a wall dividing their 

 part of the town from that of the Ambau people, set fire to their oppo- 

 nents' quarter, and reduced it to ashes. The latter fled for refuge to 

 the main land, across the shallow isthmus, but found themselves here 

 opposed by the king with his army, who slaughtered all those who 

 had escaped from Ambau. This done, Tanoa entered Ambau in 

 triumph, and receiving the submission of all the neighbouring towns, 

 resumed the government, after an absence of five years. This reco- 

 very of his kingdom took place in 1837. Being thus re-established, 

 Tanoa, in order effectually to destroy his enemies, sent messages to 

 the different towns, with presents, to induce the inhabitants of the 

 places whither the rebels had fled to put them to death. In this he 

 soon succeeded, and their former friends were thus made the instru- 

 ments of their punishment. Tanoa having succeeded in establishing 

 his rule, put a stop to all further slaughter ; but all the principal 

 chiefs who had opposed him, except Masomalua, of Viwa, had been 

 slain. Tanoa's authority was now acknowledged in all his former 

 dominions; but this has not put an end to the petty wars. The 

 three chief cities, Ambau, Rewa, and Naitasiri, are frequently at war, 

 notwithstanding they are all three closely connected by alliances with 

 each other. Here, in fact, is the great seat of power in the group, 

 though it varies occasionally. These three places form, as it were, a 

 triangle, the two former being on the north and south coasts, while 

 that of Naitasiri is situated inland, on the Wailevu, or Peale's river. 

 These disturbances most frequently occur between Ambau and Rewa. 

 Tanoa takes no part in these contests, but when he thinks the belli- 

 gerents have fought long enough, he sends the Rewa people word to 

 "come and beg pardon," after the Feejee custom, which they inva- 

 riably do, even though they may have been victorious. 



Mr. Brackenridge, our horticulturist, was soon busily engaged in 

 preparing the garden for our seeds. I had been anxious that this 

 should be done as soon as possible, in order that we might have a 

 chance of seeing it in a prosperous state before we left the island; 

 and I feel much indebted to him for the zeal he manifested. About 

 twenty natives were employed in putting up the fence, the chief 

 having agreed with each of them to make two fathoms of it. Some 

 were employed in clearing away the weeds, and others in bringing 

 reeds and stakes down from the mountains. Mr. Brackenridge 

 marked out the line for the fence, but they could not be induced 



