316 MALOLO. 



I felt a oreat interest about the missionaries, and regretted the 

 absence of Tui Illa-illa, the acting king, who was on the island of 

 Vanua-levu, gathering his warriors. Not being able to await his 

 arrival, I had a long talk with his old father, Tui Thakau, whom I 

 found sitting in his house, as usual, with his wives about him; all of 

 whom asked the interpreter, Tom, for red paint, (aloa.) 



I distinctly told the king, that neither the missionaries nor any 

 other white men must be hurt; that if it ever occurred, or he touched 

 a hair of their heads, he migbt rely upon it, that sooner or later 

 punishment would come upon him. I urged upon him, for his own 

 sake, the necessity of taking care that no harm should come to them 

 or their families, and spoke of the necessity of giving them ground and 

 building them a house without the limits of the town. To all this he 

 listened with gi'eat willingness, and promised to do all he could ; but 

 he said that his son, Tui Illa-illa, must be consulted, and that when 

 he came back he would talk the matter over with him. He, however, 

 promised that no harm should come to the missionaries. This had 

 a good effect, and quieted, in a measure, the fears of the ladies of the 

 mission. 



The old king told me he did not pretend to rule out of his own 

 house, for he had become too old. He passes his time with his wives, 

 muskets, and junk-bottles, of the latter of which he has a goodly 

 supply, hung all around his house. His stock of them had increased 

 since my last visit, the Currency Lass having, I believe, disposed of 

 some hampers of them. As I entered, I found one of his young 

 wives helping him to food, his hands being tabooed since the death 

 of his son. 



Requiring some yams for the vessels, I asked him to have a 

 quantity brought. He was all willingness at first, and with those 

 about him appeared very anxious to procure a quantity for me ; but 

 I understood this manoeuvre, and well knew, from other indications, 

 that none would be brought. Messenger after messenger in a short 



DO O 



time began to arrive, stating one excuse and another, and many more 

 messengers returned than went forth. 



The king's orator had, on my first landing, importuned me to ex- 

 change some yams for bottles, to which I finally agreed, in order to 

 get rid of him, and sent my cockswain off to the tender for them. 

 About the time the messengers were coming in, the cockswain re- 

 turned. The orator, it appeared, had now changed his mind, and had 

 no yams to barter. I now began to talk of our " fiery spirits" to 



