M B U A BAY AND MUTHUATA. 245 



The graves of the common people (kai-si) had merely stones laid 

 over them. On the natives who accompanied Messrs. Hale and Agate 

 being told that they had permission to take a skeleton, which they 

 call " kalou mate," they showed no reluctance whatever to assist, and 

 took them to a grave where they said two Ambau men were buried, 

 who had died from eating poisoned fish. Though the grave was not 

 deep, some difficulty was experienced in removing the gravel and 

 stones, with which the bodies were covered. The natives were play- 

 ing and making sport while at their work, and seemed at a loss to 

 know at which end to look for the head. There was no covering 

 found on the bodies, which had been laid naked in the grave : the 

 bones were clear of flesh and whole, but were brittle and decayed. 



On the 27th, they had a visit from the king's son, who came in full 

 costume, with his long seavo pendent both from before and behind, 

 and a full turban. His visit was for the purpose of obtaining a small 

 pennant that was making for his canoe, consisting of a yard or two of 

 red bunting with a white star in it. With this he went off in great 

 glee. He was on his way to Somu-somu, to invite the chiefs of that 

 place to the feast about to be given at Muthuata. 



Captain Hudson was now informed that the messengers had re- 

 turned without the murderers. The report they brought back was, 

 that they had fled into the mountains, and joined the chiefs there for 

 protection, at the time the Peacock passed the town. This was not 

 credited, and the king was desired to make another attempt, which 

 he did. He seemed desirous of obtaining the murderers, and together 

 with the chief Gingi, advised that the town to which they belonged 

 should be burnt, although all the other inhabitants were innocent. 

 This Captain Hudson refused to do, as he did not wish to punish the 

 innocent for the guilty. 



Gingi himself was suspected of having had a hand in the murder 

 of Cunningham. Although not of the royal blood, he has much in- 

 fluence in Muthuata, and is, in all respects, a disreputable character. 

 He has four houses, which are the best in the town, and are occupied 

 by as many wives. He possesses a considerable quantity of other 

 property, which he has accumulated from his earnings in the biche 

 de mar fishery. He does not hesitate to boast of his savage actions, 

 and to reckon up a dozen men whom he has killed with his own 

 musket. When I come to speak of the Asaua cluster of islands, some 

 of his wholesale massacres will be recorded. In these encounters he 



vol. in. 62 



