196 LAKE MBA AND SAVU-SAVU. 



were forced to keep on the outside, and, for want of an opening, were 

 obliged to anchor without the reef. In the morning they crossed the 

 reef at high-water, and soon got into deep water. The survey of the 

 southern side proved there was safe anchorage, the holding-ground 

 being good in twenty fathoms water in the bay, and opposite the 

 town of Lakemba; but during a southerly blow, a vessel would be 

 much exposed to the wind and sea. There are several openings and 

 clear passages through the reef on the northwest side, and clear water 

 round to the south, but the bights to the north are full of coral 

 patches. 



There are villages every few miles around this island. It is sub- 

 ject to Ambau, and its inhabitants are considered much more savage 

 than those of the other islands in its neighbourhood. 



Having completed the surveys, agreeably to his instructions, Lieu- 

 tenant Underwood returned by the way of Ambatiki, and reached 

 Le'vuka after an absence of nine days. The men had been at their 

 oars pulling almost constantly for the period of eight days, sleeping 

 in the boats, and seldom allowed to land. 



Mr. Knox and Colvocoressis were sent with the tender to complete 

 the surveys of Wakaia, Mokungai, and Mekundranga. All three con- 

 tain few inhabitants, and have been the scene of the horrid tragedies 

 often committed by the stronger on the weak tribes of this group. 

 There is a remarkable shelf formed near the centre of the island of 

 Wakaia, which goes by the name of the Chief's or Chieftain's Leap. 

 Near this there is now a small town, at which the former inhabitants 

 for some time defended themselves from their savage enemies, but 

 being hard pressed, and finding they must be taken, they followed 

 their chief's example, threw themselves off the precipice, several 

 hundred feet in height, and were dashed to pieces, to the number of 

 a hundred and more. 



Mokungai fell under the displeasure of the Ambau chiefs, and the 

 whole population was exterminated after a bloody battle on the beach 

 of its little harbour. Some of the whites witnessed this transaction, 

 and bear testimony to the bloody scene, and the cannibal feasting 

 for days after, even on those bodies that were far gone to decay. 

 They are both, as I have before said, under the rule of the chief of 

 Levuka. 



Wakaia now contains only about thirty inhabitants, whilst Mo- 

 kungai has only one or two families. 



While the schooner was at Wakaia, a man by the name of Murray 



