REW A. 133 
The chiefs convened a meeting to consider the course that ought to be 
pursued, but could come to no decision, in consequence of the general 
opinion that the conduct of Koraitamano was justifiable; although, on 
the other hand, they feared the wrath of the king, in case he should 
_ recover, particularly those who had advised and wished to uphold Ko- 
raitamano. The queen becoming aware of their hesitation, on the 
following morning took some whales’ teeth and other valuables, and 
presented them herself to the chiefs, saying they were sent by the king 
to purchase the death of his son. Fearing to hold out any longer, 
they went to Koraitamano and announced to him the fatal mandate, 
and he was immediately killed. They then proceeded to the king’s 
house to report that the deed was done, and on approaching the couch 
of the king, the putrescent odour which proceeded from the corpse at 
once disclosed to them the deception that had been practised. It was, 
however, too late to amend the matter, and Madonovi, the eldest son 
of the queen, now succeeded his father without opposition. One of 
the first acts of Madonovi was to build an mbure over the spot where 
his father was murdered. His succession deprived Seru and Thoka- 
nauto (Phillips) of their right to the throne, and of course excited their 
hostility to the reigning chief, who was by no means so popular as his 
father, and did not govern to the satisfaction of his subjects. Seru, 
who was the oldest of the two malcontents, was a very tall and re- 
markably handsome man, and had great influence among the people, 
which excited the jealousy of the king. Such was his strength that it 
is said he could knock down a full-grown hog by a blow on the fore- 
head, and would break a cocoa-nut by striking it on his elbow. 
Mutual words of defiance had passed between the two brothers, and 
they were living in daily expectation of some encounter that would 
bring on serious disturbances. During the height of this feeling, they 
met on the road, where the scene that was enacted was quite remark- 
able, and the narration of it by Phillips equally so. 
Seru had one of the short missile clubs (ula) in his girdle, which Feejee 
men usually wear stuck in behind. As Madonovi approached, Seru 
placed his back against the fence, without any design. The king had 
three shaddocks (molitivi) in his hand, of which, as he came up to Seru, 
he held one up and called out in sport, that he meant to throw it at 
him. The thought then came into Seru’s mind that if the king threw 
and hit him he would let him pass, but that if he missed he would take 
the opportunity to put him to death. He, therefore, replied to his 
brother in the same jocose manner, “ Throw, but if you miss, I’ll try.” 
The king threw, but missed. He then drew nearer, and holding up 
another of the shaddocks, cried out, “This time I will hit you.” To 
M 
