LAKEMBA AND SAVU-SAVU. 183 



her head, for her disobedience." The poor woman, after one of these 

 beatings, was taken ill, and her Feejee friends wished to express their 

 love by taking her to her own town to bury her. They took her to 

 the grave and put her into it, but she now refused to be buried alive, 

 and effected her escape. Her husband, knowing where she was 

 gone, and having some affection for her notwithstanding his ill treat- 

 ment, went to see her. On his way he met a person from the town, 

 who told him that she was dead and buried ; but on his arrival at the 

 place, he found that she had extricated herself from her murderous 

 relatives, and both husband and wife were much relieved and re- 

 joiced at the meeting. In order to free themselves from such customs 

 they both at once embraced Christianity, which is considered as ab- 

 solving them from this horrid obligation. 



Tui Neau's authority extends over the eastern group, but he is 

 subject to Tanoa, and at present pays his tribute to the king of Somu- 

 somu, in consequence of an agreement with Tanoa. It is thought, 

 however, that on Tanoa's death, Seru, his son, will insist upon 

 receiving the tribute again, as he is known to be very unfriendly to 

 the king of Somu-somu, and is now desirous of making war upon 

 him. 



Tui Neau was presented with various articles, and was told the 

 object of the visit, and the friendly disposition we had towards him. 

 This communication he only noticed by a low grunt. He is disposed 

 to be friendly towards the missionaries, and says he will turn Chris- 

 tian when Tanoa dies. It was observed that the same savage homage 

 was paid him that I have before spoken of in the other islands, simi- 

 lar expressions being used by both men and women. 



Two of the officers of the Porpoise remained on shore all night, 

 and had an opportunity of seeing a native dance, in which about one 

 hundred and fifty men and women were engaged. The men and 

 women did not dance together. Their motions were thought to be 

 stiff and inelegant. They kept time to a monotonous chaunt, in 

 which they all occasionally joined. 



The whole had a wild and singular effect, as seen by the flickering 

 light of the cocoanut-leaf torches. Many of their movements were 

 highly indecent, and these were much applauded by the natives. 



The people of this island seemed to be far from healthy ; pulmonary 

 diseases were common, and often fatal, and an unsightly scrofulous 

 affection appeared to be quite prevalent. 



The survey of Lakemba gave its length five miles east and west, 



