LAKE MBA AND SAVU-SAVU. 177 



through which there is only a boat-entrance on the north shore. 

 Karoni, which is of small size, lies within the same reef, towards its 

 southern end. Motha forms the southern side of what I have called 

 the Oneata Channel ; it is a good landmark to run for in making the 

 group, being high and surrounded with sloping sides. Its soil is 

 rich. Its population consists of a few natives. There are three 

 detached reefs to the eastward, and within a few miles of it. 



Oneata lies north of Motha, and forms the northern side of the 

 Oneata Channel. It is of good height, and may readily be known 

 by Observatory Isle to the northeast, two hundred and fifty feet in 

 height, with three lofty trees on its apex. The reef around Oneata is 

 also extensive ; it has two good entrances on the northeast side, and 

 three on the west. 



Not being able to pass through the reef of Oneata, Lieutenant- 

 Commandant Ringgold bore away to the northwest for Lakemba, 

 which is twelve miles distant. At nine o'clock on the 15th, the Por- 

 poise was off its south side, and as the boats were preparing to land, 

 a canoe was seen leaving the beach, having on board the missionary, 

 the Rev. Mr. Calvert, belonging to the Wesleyan Society. He 

 had been on the island more than a year, and succeeded the Rev. 

 Messrs. Cargill, Cross, and Jagger, who had removed to the larger 

 and more important islands of the group. Lieutenant-Commandant 

 Ringgold and some of the officers returned with him to the island, 

 where they were kindly entertained by him and his lady. Mr. 

 Calvert did not express himself favourably regarding the natives, 

 describing them as cruel and bloodthirsty, and said it was the pre- 

 vailing custom to destroy all shipwrecked persons. Cannibalism, 

 however, is now extinct on this island. 



The king of Lakemba, Tui Neati, was found seated in a large 

 canoe-house, near the landing, with a numerous retinue of almost 

 naked natives about him. He is a corpulent nasty-looking fellow, 

 and has the unmitigated habits of a savage. He is said to have one 

 hundred wives ! He exercises despotic power over all the surrounding 

 islands, has the character of being a cruel tyrant, and lives in the 

 midst of all kinds of excesses. The settlement is dirty and badly 

 built, but has some large houses. In it were seen numbers of ugly 

 women and children. Salomon, the Tonga chief, left the brig at 

 Lakemba ; he had been of but little use as a pilot in consequence of 

 being sea-sick nearly the whole time, which was somewhat singular 

 for a person who was almost constantly engaged in navigating canoes. 



vol. in. 45 



