REWA. 139 



Rewa assumed a rank among the chief cities of the Feejees, having 

 acquired much territory, and among the rest, the island of Kantavu. 

 His eldest son, Koraitamano, was the child of a Kantavu woman of 

 rank ; he was, in consequence, a vasu of the most important posses- 

 sions of Rewa, and had many connexions and friends throughout the 

 country; he had so ingratiated himself with the chiefs and people, 

 that he could have made himself king on the death of his father. 

 Ramdini-Ndraketi, the queen, who is represented as a most artful as 

 well as unscrupulous woman, was fearful that his popularity might 

 become disadvantageous to her children, and she determined to have 

 him removed. She managed to instil into the king's mind suspicions 

 that Koraitamano intended to seize upon the succession, which deter- 

 mined him to put this son to death. Koraitamano received a hint of 

 his intentions, and was able to evade every attempt. On some occa- 

 sions he was obliged to flee to distant places, once to Ra, the western 

 end of Vitilevu, and another time to Mbenga, where he remained until 

 a kind of reconciliation took place, when he was induced to return. 

 He had not been long in Rewa, before the queen recommenced her 

 machinations for his destruction, and his father also resumed his 

 designs against him. 



Koraitamano was doubtful whether again to resort to flight or 

 remain, when some chiefs who were hostile to the king, represented 

 to the young chief that the only method to secure his own safety 

 effectually was to put his father to death, assuring him they would 

 stand by him in the struggle. By their persuasions he was induced 

 to accede to their designs. At night he set fire to a canoe-house, 

 and coming into his father's dwelling, he approached the place where 

 he was sleeping, and cried out, " Do you lie here asleep when your 

 city is burning!" Tambiavalu immediately started up and ran out. 

 Koraitamano following closely after him, watched an occasion, struck 

 him with his club on the back of his head, and killed him on the 

 spot ; after which he retired to his own house, trusting to the pro- 

 mises of his friends and adherents, that they would protect and 

 defend him. But the queen was more than an equal for his cunning, 

 and her hatred caused her to go to the greatest lengths in wreaking 

 her vengeance upon him. She had the body brought to the house, 

 where, observing that the external injury to the head was slight, she 

 conceived the singular plan of making the deed of the assassin and 

 his friends recoil upon their own heads. She, therefore, at once 

 raised a cry that the body showed signs of life, and that her husband 



