SOMU-SOMU. 157 



Moturiki is three miles long, and one broad ; it is not so much 

 broken as Ovolau, though it rises in its centre, forming a high ridge. 

 There are two small islands, named Leluvia and Thangala, to the 

 south of it, and between these and Moturiki is the entrance to the bay 

 of Ambau, termed the Moturiki Passage ; this is about two miles long, 

 and is a mile in width towards its eastern end : the tide flows strongly 

 through it, and the flood sets to the westward. 



On the 28th, I had a visit from Tanoa's youngest son, Rivaletta, 

 who is a fine-looking young man, about eighteen years of age. He 

 was accompanied by a number of young fellows of his own age, but 

 could not be induced to visit the ship, either from fear of detention, or, 

 as Tui Levuka told me, because he had no presents to give in return 

 for those which he should receive, and therefore would not pay a 

 visit until he could comply with this custom. He was. as I after- 

 wards learned, the bearer of a message to the king of Muthuata, to 

 claim his daughter as a wife for old Tanoa. 



It is not at all surprising that the chiefs and people of Ambau 

 slurald be so much detested by the inhabitants of the group. As an 

 instance of the outrages they are in the habit of committing, Riva- 

 letta, after refusing to visit the ship and the observatory, went to a 

 village on the mountains, from which the inhabitants fled with their 

 valuables for fear of losing them. Failing- thus in his intention of 

 plunder, he immediately set fire to the town, and left it a heap of 

 ruins. He departed the same day for Vanua-levu. 



The tender having returned to Ovolau, I made preparations to 

 leave that place. 



The launch and cutter, under Lieutenant Alden and Passed Mid- 

 shipman Knox, had also returned from the survey of the north side 

 of Vitilevu, as far as its west end, and of Malolo. Lieutenant Alden 

 reported the natives of the latter island as being extremely hostile to 

 the whites, and having a very bad character. 



A native stole a knife from one of the men. Tui Levuka proposed 

 killing him, but was told not to do so : the thief was taken on board, 

 and confined for two days, when he was released, as I did not think 

 his guilt was sufficiently established. The moment he was free he 

 jumped overboard and swam on shore. 



The schooner Currency Lass, which we had seen at Tonga, arrived 

 on the 30th, bringing me letters from Lieutenant-Commandant Ring- 

 gold, by which I learned they were all well, and proceeding rapidly 

 with their work. The Currency Lass, since she had left Tonga, had 



vol. in. 40 



