224 MBUA BAY AND MUTHUATA. 



stormy, so much so as to make their situation not only unpleasant 

 but dangerous, in consequence of the many reefs by which they were 

 surrounded, and which they had to pass through before reaching their 

 destination. These reefs on the shores of Vanua-levu, in the most 

 favourable times, are dangerous, but particularly so in thick and 

 stormy weather. Fortunately, when near the passage, they were 

 able to see the land for a short time, and soon after reached their 

 destination in safety. 



In passing into the bay they discovered the buoy I had left for 

 Captain Hudson, with the despatches enclosed in a bottle, and had it 

 brought on board. 



Lieutenant Underwood joined them soon after, and set out the 

 next morning with the ship's rudder and pintles for Captain Belcher. 

 Captain Hudson then sent a boat to the town for the king or one of 

 the principal chiefs, which brought off Tui Mora, the son of Tui 

 Mbua, from whom he learned that the whole district was in a state of 

 civil war, and had been so for the last year ; that all their towns were 

 barricadoed and their canoes broken up. This was an unforeseen 

 event, putting a stop to the plans we had entertained of getting a 

 chief to accompany the surveying party to the Asaua Group. On no 

 consideration would Tui Mora leave his district, nor had he any one 

 to send. Captain Hudson, under these circumstances, after talking 

 to the chief, determined, in the first place, to effect a peace, to which 

 he found this chief favourably disposed. 



He was desired to send a message to the town of the old chief Tui 

 Mbua, which was but a few miles off, in order to ask him to come on 

 board. He at once said the king was absent at the bay of Naloa, 

 where the ship Leonidas was fishing. The distance thither, he said, 

 was ten miles by land, and thirty by water, and no one's life would 

 be safe in going there, as they would have to pass several of the 

 enemy's towns, and must certainly be killed. On being asked to send 

 a canoe, he said they had none, and if they had had any, it would be 

 impossible to reach the desired point, for it would be captured and 

 the men killed. 



Captain Hudson at once determined to proceed himself to the 

 Leonidas, and bring- the old king back with him, retaining Tui Mora 

 on board in the mean time. Accordingly, he left the ship at noon, 

 and reached the Leonidas after dark. Tui Mbua was at once sent for, 

 and proper explanations being made to him respecting the object in 

 view, to restore peace, he readily consented to accompany Captain 



