14 2 REWA. 



The character of Phillips, who calls himself the white man's friend, 

 is rather equivocal. He is said while young to have been fed mostly 

 on human flesh. When I saw him on board my ship at Levuka, I 

 told him I had heard that he liked this food, and I thought that he 

 showed much shame at being considered a cannibal by us. His 

 youthful practices, which he told as though some credit were due to 

 himself for a change in his latter conduct, will tend to show how 

 early these natives employ themselves in inflicting pain on each 

 other. One of these was to set a sharp-pointed stick in the ground, 

 cover it with earth, and then challenge another boy to jump with 

 him. He would then leap in such a manner that the boy on follow- 

 ing his example would alight upon the pointed stick, and run it 

 through his foot. He is said also to be frequently employed by the 

 king as an instrument of his vengeance. The missionaries relate that 

 he was once sent to kill a native by the king's order, upon which he 

 went to the person's house, and told him that " The king has sent me 

 to kill you;" to which he replied, " It is good only that I should die." 

 Phillips struck, but only stunned him, after which he returned, and 

 told the king he had not succeeded in killing him. When the man 

 recovered, Phillips was again sent back, and succeeded in giving 

 him his deathblow, which he received with the same resignation as 

 before. Notwithstanding his bad traits, he is certainly one of the 

 most intelligent natives that I have met with in all Polynesia. He 

 possesses much information respecting his own people, and would, if 

 the king allowed it, be the means of effecting many improvements. 

 He has already introduced some into his own establishment, and is 

 very desirous of learning, but he unfortunately has not sufficient 

 knowledge to distinguish between good and evil. He visits all the 

 vessels- that touch at this group, and says that he passes most of his 

 time on board of them. He produces many recommendations from 

 their commanders, which besides recommending him, give the very 

 salutary precaution of always being on their guard while among 

 these natives. 



The prisoners on board the Peacock were early in motion on the 

 following morning, looking anxiously for the return of Ngaraningiou ; 

 and many speculations were thrown out as to whether he would 

 succeed in his errand, or connive at the escape of Vendovi. The 

 hatred he was known to bear Vendovi, was in favour of his return 

 with him, either dead or alive. These surmises were shortly put to 



