FEEJEE GROUP. 383 



are complied with, he continues to threaten to break their heads. To 

 please him they find to be impossible, and Whippy writes, if his reign 

 be not shortened, their lives will be. 



Several trading vessels have been Ft Malolo, who all speak of the 

 natives, both there and in the neighbourhood, as being very friendly 

 and civil. 



Several vessels had arrived and were fishing for biche de mar, but 

 without much success. The wars and massacres constantly occurring 

 had, in a great measure, put a stop to all the labours of the natives, 

 and had turned their attention from all peaceful pursuits. 



In the latter part of July, both the towns of Levuka were totally 

 destroyed by firs, which took place in the dead of the night. Whippy 

 and the rest lost all their property ; books, papers, &c, were all burnt, 

 but no lives were lost. The town, however, was fast rebuilding, and 

 would be much improved. 



The missionaries and their families are all well at Somu-somu, 

 but they have made no converts. Mr. Cross complains that the Viwa 

 chief, Naugarrasia, had turned out a hypocrite, after having deceived 

 him for a year. The missionaries are making no further progress at 

 Rewa, and the troubles there will prevent any. They have not yet 

 been favoui'ed with a missionary teacher at Levuka, which these 

 respectable men have been long endeavouring to obtain. They are 

 anxious for the means of instruction for their children, of whom they 

 have among them about fifty. It is to be hoped that this opportunity, 

 which is offered to the missionaries, will not be long neglected. To 

 instruct children, who are thus offered to them, appears to be one of 

 the best possible modes of furthering the great object they have in 

 view. The present generation of the Feejee nation I cannot but 

 consider as irreclaimable, and that it would be the true policy to 

 direct their whole efforts to the rising one. In this they will be most 

 likely to succeed by fostering the white men of Levuka, and con- 

 necting themselves with them. From them they would receive every 

 possible assistance, in consequence of their anxiety to forward the 

 education of their own children; and the latter, under missionary 

 auspices, would soon rise up into a class, that, connected in blood and 

 language with the natives, and at the same time instructed in the 

 way of religion and civilization, could not fail to exert a most salutary 

 influence over the destinies of these fine islands. 



In taking leave of the Feejee Islands, I was deeply impressed with 

 the recollection of the various feelings and anxieties to which my 



