398 HONOLULU. 



mined its reefs, and then stood for Somu-somu, where they found 

 the people preparing for a grand feast, in consequence of the breaking 

 out of the war with Vuna. The old king was found, as I had fre- 

 quently seen him, braiding his sennit, and surrounded by his wives. 

 Lieutenant-Commandant Ringgold had communication with the 



Do 



king and chiefs respecting the missionaries, and urged upon them 

 the necessity of providing a suitable place for them. Tui Illa-illa 

 was for a long time unwilling to make any promises, and wished to 

 procrastinate. He professed great love for the missionaries ; but his 

 character being well understood, little reliance was placed in his 

 promises. Finding, however, that Lieutenant-Commandant Ring- 

 gold was not to be deceived, he at last consented to assign to the 

 missionaries a piece of land in the suburbs of the town, where they 

 might build a dwelling. 



Tui Illa-illa was very desirous of obtaining one of our "fiery 

 spirits" (rockets), with which he believed he could put an end at 

 once to the Vuna war ; and the hope of obtaining one was no doubt 

 a great inducement to his yielding his consent to giving the land so 

 freely to the missionaries, for it is well known he bears them no good- 

 will. He offered one hundred pigs for a single rocket, and enforced 

 his request by kissing the hands of Lieutenant-Commandant Ring- 

 gold with great eagerness. He did not, however, succeed in procuring 

 the object of his wishes. 



During the stay of the Porpoise at Somu-somu, the boats, under 

 Lieutenant Maury and Mr. Knox, were despatched to survey the bay 

 of Matapuen, on the opposite side of the straits, which service they 

 completed, and reported its having a good and safe anchorage. After 

 their return, preparations were made for departure. 



At Somu-somu they found a celebrated Arnbau chief, called Wai- 

 nue, cousin to Seru, with whom he had quarrelled, and had fled to 

 Somu-somu : he was now about joining in the war against his own 

 relatives. He was remarkably fine-looking, tall, and well made, and 

 dressed out in the extreme of the Feejee fashion. 



Provisions were in great abundance, but not for sale, as they were 

 reserving them all for the great feast to celebrate the commencement 

 of the war. Aliko, their former and favourite pilot, who had been 

 left at Muthuata, now returned with some canoes, bringing a refusal 

 on the part of old Tui Muthuata to engage himself openly in any 

 conflict with Tanoa of Ambau, which was a great disappointment to 

 the people of Somu-somu. 



