REWA. 119 



which had a high platform, underneath which was a sort of cuddy, 

 with seats. It was a tolerably comfortable conveyance in fine weather ; 

 but it was their misfortune to experience a heavy rain, and all were 

 well wetted. The wind being contrary, they were obliged to scull 

 the whole distance, and they describe the canoe as having an uncom- 

 fortable rocking motion. 



Captain Hudson visited the missionaries, and found them most 

 miserably accommodated, in a small rickety house on the left bank 

 of the river, opposite the town of Rewa, the dwelling-house that 

 they had occupied having been blown down in the tremendous 

 storm* which happened on the 25th of February, 1840. 



After Captain Hudson had spent some time with the missionaries, 

 my messenger, Paddy Connel, made his appearance and delivered him 

 my letters. Paddy had a very awkward mishap in rounding Kamba 

 Point, for his canoe had capsized, and he had been obliged to swim 

 for his life. He had thought, as he said, that some ill luck would 

 overtake him, and had, therefore, tied my letter in the handkerchief 

 on his head. By this means he kept it dry, and he believed the im- 

 portant paper, as he called it, had kept him from drowning. 



Although it had rained hard, Captain Hudson resolved to fulfil 

 his promise to the king, of showing him some fire-works, and the 

 gunner had been ordered up with rockets, fire-works, &c, for that 

 purpose. He, therefore, proceeded across the river to the king's 

 house, where he found a large collection of natives. The house is 

 large, and in shape not unlike a Dutch barn : it is sixty feet in length 

 and thirty in width ; the eaves were six feet from the ground, and 

 along each side there were three large posts, two feet in diameter 

 and six feet high, set firmly into the ground; on these were laid the 

 horizontal beams and plates to receive the lower ends of the rafters ; 

 the rafters rise to a ridge-pole, thirty feet from the ground, which 

 is supported by three posts in the centre of the building; they 

 were of uniform size, about three inches in diameter, and eighteen 

 inches apart. The usual thick thatch was in this case very neatly 

 made. The sides of the house were of small upright reeds, set 

 closely together ; all the fastenings were of sennit, made from the 

 husk of the cocoa-nut. Some attempts at ornament were observed, 

 the door-posts being covered with reeds wound around with sennit, 



* This storm appears to have been coincident with, if not part of, the gale that occurred 

 at New Zealand on the 1st of March. 



