MBUA BAY AND MUTHUATA. 247 



natives, in the fear exhibited by their guides when occasionally ap- 

 proaching huts on their rambles ; and they said that they would not 

 have dared to venture among the mountaineers except in company 

 with the Papalangis. 



In these rambles they occasionally visited the high peaks, and 

 whenever they had a view of the interior, a number of high, volcanic, 

 and many of them sharp-pointed peaks, presented themselves to the 

 eye. 



On the 28th, Passed Midshipman Harrison arrived in the schooner 

 Kai-viti, with the supply of yams, and my orders to the Peacock to 

 join me at Mbua Bay on the 4th of July. 



The next day was employed in getting ready to sail. Captain 

 Hudson had employed his carpenters in getting out the frame of a 

 new launch of the iron-wood (Casuarina) ; but subsequently, at the 

 Sandwich Islands, we found that it was ill-adapted for that purpose, 

 and it was consequently rejected. 



The king again sent off word that his messengers had returned a 

 second time, without any further tidings of the murderers than those 

 they had first brought. 



This day, Joseph Baxter, the second mate of the Leonidas, who 

 had been badly burnt when firing a cannon on board that ship, was 

 brought on board the Peacock. The accident was caused by the 

 ignition of a cartridge which he had carelessly put into his bosom. 

 Every possible attention was paid to him. 



The natives of the town of Muthuata appeared to be busily engaged 

 in making preparations for the great feast. Hogs, yams, taro, and 

 turtles, were continually brought into town, and it was said that the 

 king of Muthuata had collected a hundred hogs and ten thousand 

 yams. In anticipation of the coming feast, all articles were tabooed, 

 and none could be purchased. 



The women, both old and young, were daily practising their dan- 

 cing and music, and preparing turbans and masi for the chiefs, while 

 all were engaged in dressing their hair with ashes and a white clay, 

 each striving to vie with and outdo his neighbour. 



On the 2d of July the Peacock sailed from Muthuata, and the king 

 seemed very happy at the departure of the ship. In the evening 

 they anchored in Naloa Bay, off the village of Fokasinga. A fleet 

 of canoes came off to the ship the next morning, from which they 

 learned that the war had again begun in earnest, and that Tui Mbua's 



