SOMU-SOMU. 151 



stay of the Peacock there, and of the sailing of that ship with Vendovi 

 on board. 



During this time many things occurred to keep us on the alert. 

 On the night of the 23d, the usual number of men were landed at the 

 observatory, and in the night a musket was accidentally fired, which, 

 of course, created some stir, but it proved a false alarm ; it, however, 

 served to keep up our vigilance in case of attack. 



On the 26th the Flying-Fish returned, entering through the reefs 

 after dark. Lieutenant Carr had executed the greater part of the 

 duties pointed out in his instructions. Among these were that of car- 

 rying Tubou Totai, the Tonga chief already spoken of, to the Porpoise. 

 He was represented as an excellent pilot for the eastern group, and as 

 likely to be of service to Lieutenant-Commandant Ringgold, in point- 

 ing out the shoals and reefs, which might save much time in the 

 surveying operations. Tubou spoke English tolerably well. He 

 had been in New South Wales, and was a guest at the Government- 

 House ; talked much of the kindness of Sir George and Lady Gipps, 

 and amused me by the accounts he gave of the balls and parties to 

 which he had been invited, and of the attentions he had received, 

 particularly from the ladies. He said that they had admired him 

 very much, and called him a very handsome man. He knew well 

 how to behave himself, was well acquainted with our habits and 

 customs, and had all the grace and elegance of a finished gentleman, 

 if one can imagine such a being in a Tongese Islander. I have, 

 indeed, seldom seen a native so correct in his deportment. He was a 

 professing Christian, and might be called more than half civilized. 

 He talked much to me of the gentlemen of Ambau ; said " they were 

 such fine fellows, so hospitable, and such gentlemen ; there was so 

 much pleasure in their society ; there was nothing like Feejee 

 fashions." I spoke to him of their eating human flesh, but he could 

 not be brought to talk of it, and invariably refused to answer my 

 questions in relation to that horrible custom, except as regarded him- 

 self. He said that he never touched it. At times he would evade 

 the question by saying, " Feejee country was a fine country," and be 

 silent. 



Tubou Totai is the brother of Lajika, who is generally an attendant 

 of the preaching of the missionaries.* The brothers are somewhat 



* The proselytes of the missionaries consist altogether of the few Tongese that are 

 now in the group ; these reside principally at Lakemba, and from what I understood are 

 the followers of Lajika and Tubou Totai. 



