LAKEMBA AND SAVU-SAVU. 211 



although his district is populous, and from information I received, the 

 number of people under his rule may be set down at nearly seven 

 thousand. These two districts are entirely independent of the great 

 chief of the Feejees. The inhabitants are a fine-looking race of men, 

 and we were told that they are well disposed towards the whites. 

 The young women are the best-looking of any I have met with in 

 the group, and are treated with more consideration and equality than 

 is usual among these islands. 



The natives about Savu-savu evinced much greater curiosity re- 

 specting us than we had heretofore remarked, and those from the bay 

 are particularly wild-looking. As elsewhere, when asked about the 

 people of the interior, they describe them as being ferocious and 

 cruel, saying that they go entirely naked, wearing no tapa ; are very 

 large and strong, eating roots and wild berries. They invariably con- 

 nect something marvellous with their accounts ; but on closely ques- 

 tioning these men, they all agreed that they had never seen one, and, 

 from all the inquiries I have made through the missionaries, natives 

 and whites, I am satisfied there are very few, if any, inhabitants that 

 dwell permanently in the mountains. It is contrary to the usual 

 habits of the Feejees, and those of all the groups in the Pacific. The 

 climate of the mountains is too cold and wet, and entirely unsuited to 

 their tastes and habits. So far from seeking the high lands, they are 

 invariably found inhabiting the fruitful valleys, and only in times of 

 danger and war resort to neighbouring inaccessible peaks, to protect 

 themselves against their more powerful adversaries. Their food is 

 almost exclusively produced in the low grounds and along the sea- 

 shore, for it consists principally of fish, taro, yams, and cocoa-nuts, 

 and the latter, as has been before observed, seldom reach maturity 

 even at the altitude of six hundred feet. 



The bay of Savu-savu may be known by a remarkable saddle- 

 shaped peak, lying just behind it ; there are several other high peaks, 

 that show the interior to be very rugged and high. Some of these 

 peaks reach the altitude of four thousand feet. 



On the evening of the 4th, Lieutenant Case returned, having 

 finished the survey, connecting his work on with Rativa Island. 

 There was no harbour found along this shore, except for very small 

 vessels and boats. 



Lieutenant Alden, in the Flying-Fish, was now directed to proceed 

 and examine some reefs on the north side of Vitilevu, that he re- 



