SOMU-SOMU. 165 



It is not to be supposed, under this state of things, that the success 

 of the missionaries will be satisfactory, or adequate to their exertions, 

 or a sufficient recompense for the hardships, deprivations, and 

 struggles which they and their families have to encounter. There 

 are few situations in which so much physical and moral courage is 

 required, as those in which these devoted and pious individuals are 

 placed ; and nothing but a deep sense of duty, and a strong determi- 

 nation to perform it, could induce civilized persons to subject them- 

 selves to the sight of such horrid scenes as they are called upon 

 almost daily to witness. 



On the afternoon of the 9th, the Porpoise joined me here, agreeably 

 to appointment. 



On the 10th, I endeavoured to get the chiefs on board the Porpoise 

 to sign the treaty, or regulations, which the chiefs of Ambau and 

 Rewa had clone. For this purpose I gave them an invitation to come 

 on board; but no inducement could persuade them to place them- 

 selves in our power, for fear of a like detention with Vendovi. 

 Finding that they were determined to persist in their refusal to come 

 on board, I asked that a council of chiefs should be held on shore. 

 To this the king agreed, and issued his orders for the meeting. It 

 took place in his house, which is built much after the fashion of an 

 mbure, though of larger dimensions ; it had four apertures for doors ; 

 the fire-place was in one corner, and part of the house was curtained 

 off with tapa. A large number of junk-bottles were hung from a 

 beam, both for use and to display his wealth, for they are very much 

 valued. The king also possessed a chair, two chests, and several 

 muskets. The former he seemed to take pleasure in sitting in, 

 having discovered, as he told the interpreter, that they were very 

 comfortable for an old man. We had a full meeting, and I was much 

 struck with the number of fine-looking men who were present. Their 

 complexions were dark, and they resembled one another more than 

 any collection of natives I had before seen in the group. 



The two sons of the king were present. Tui Illa-illa, who is the 

 actual king, is held much in awe by the people. The regulations, 

 after a full explanation of their objects, were signed, or rather they 

 made their mark, for the first time, on paper. The old king has 

 always been friendly to the whites, but his son is considered quite 

 unfriendly towards them ; and it is thought, by the missionaries, that 

 were it not for the old man, and the fear of punishment by a man-of- 

 war, the missionaries would not be safe. 



vol. in. 42 



