222 MBUA BAY AND MUTIIUATA. 



The 30th and 31st they continued beating up to the windward. 

 On the latter day, in getting under way, William Dunbar (seaman) 

 had the misfortune to have his hand caught in the chain-nipper, 

 which crushed several of his fingers so much, that amputation of 

 them became necessary. 



On the 30th, they anchored off the town of Tabooa, to the north- 

 ward and eastward of the island of Votia. Off this island is a passage 

 through the sea-reef, which I have called the Ba Passage. 



On the 1st of June, they reached Dongaloa, where they had some 

 communication with the natives. They were very shy, which Paddy 

 said was owing to some ill conduct on their part. After a while a 

 few were induced to venture near, and were much pleased at having 

 their faces and noses daubed with vermilion. They belonged to the 

 town of Dongaloa, and gave the name of their chief as Aleokalou. 

 They said they were mbati to the king of Ambau, being obliged to 

 furnish him with fighting men. Paddy said they spoke a different 

 dialect from that of either Ambau or Ra.* In looks they did not 

 differ from the natives of other parts of the island. There were 

 one or two Tonga vitis seen, but Mr. Hale found they did not under- 

 stand a word of their paternal language. 



The country in this vicinity so far changes its aspect, that the high- 

 lands approach nearer the shore, and level ground is only to be seen 

 in narrow and contracted valleys. Little appearance of cultivation is 

 to be seen, proving, conclusively, that there are but few people in this 

 district. 



On the 2d of June, they reached and landed on the island of Ma- 

 laki, which is a high islet. Malaki is divided from the large island by 

 a narrow strait, near which is the town of Rake-rake, which is also 

 subject to Ambau. A few native young boys, one of whom was the 

 chief of Rake-rake's son, were looking for shell-fish on the rocks, and 

 were at first very timid, but were induced to approach. Being treated 

 well, their fears subsided and they became communicative. 



The island of Malaki had once a large fishing town on it, and its 

 inhabitants were compelled to send, yearly, a number of turtles to 

 Tanoa at Ambau. Unfortunately for them, they one day ate one of 

 the turtles they had caught. This soon reached the ears of Tanoa 

 and the other Ambau chiefs, and was considered so high a crime 

 that orders were immediately given for an expedition to be prepared 



* Ra is the name given to the eastern end of Vitilevu. 



