306 U A I. O L o. 



strongly-marked Jewish features. He counted forty-five towns on 

 Kantavu, which would make its population upwards of ten thousand. 



The island is well covered with pine timber, resembling the Kaurie 

 pine of New Zealand, and most of the large canoes used in the Feejee 

 Islands are built here. The chief informed me that he would for 

 three muskets get me, in three days, trees large enough to make 

 masts for the tender. These were fourteen inches in diameter, and 

 sixty feet in length, or large enough for topmasts of a ship of seven 

 hundred tons. It takes them eight moons to build a canoe. 



The people of Kantavu are industrious, and the chief said they 

 had abundance of provisions, of which, if I would stay over the next 

 day, he would bring me any quantity I desired. After making inquiry 

 about Vendovi, he said that the people of Kantavu were glad he had 

 been taken away, for he was continually making exactions on them 

 for all kinds of articles, under his authority of vasu. 



The chief said there were no harbours on the south side of the 

 island, and that they sometimes transported their canoes over the 

 narrow neck to visit that shore, but it was a very rough place, and 

 too much exposed to the sea to be safe for canoes. This island, as it 

 has been before mentioned, is tributary to Rewa. Most frequently 

 the annual tribute is paid in canoes, except when the king of Rewa 

 designates otherwise. 



Many whale-ships stop here for supplies ; these are principally 

 English, belonging to Sydney, who seldom go to the north of these 

 islands. The natives reported that they had seen eight within two 

 moons. The bay they generally frequent is one to the westward of 

 Malatta, called Tabuca. On this bay there is quite a large settlement 

 of the same name, and it was reported by the chief as having ample 

 supplies. Anchorage may be had off the town in fifteen fathoms 

 water, with sandy bottom. It is a very picturesque spot. 



According to the pilot's account of the Kantavu people, they are 

 not to be trusted, being prone to acts of violence, which they can 

 commit with impunity, as they have always a secure retreat from 

 their enemies, in the mountain districts. Boats and crews, if not on 

 their guard here, are frequently detained until they are ransomed ; 

 so that it behooves all who visit and wish to deal with these people, 

 to be exceedingly cautious. 



Early on the morning of the 3d of August, we got under way, and 

 stood along the island of Kantavu, to its western end. The distance 



