MBUA BAY AND MUTHUATA. 215 
have been seen among the inhabitants of New Guinea may have been 
of this description. 
About one-fourth of a mile from Vaturua is another town, called 
Matainole, which also belongs to Tui Mora, and is in all respects 
similar to the other. Between the two towns is a kind of causeway, 
of some width, built by the natives, by throwing the earth up from each 
side. The paths wind along it, and on each side are extensive taro- 
patches, which were flooded. Mangroves abound here, while the 
drier grounds are covered with plantations of bananas and cocoa-nut 
groves. | 
On the way from Vaturua to Matainole, a piece of consecrated 
ground was passed, on which were mounds of stone, with a rude idol, 
dressed with a turban and the Feejee hair-pins. The idol was sur- 
rounded by clubs set up edgewise, and many spears, arrows, trinkets, 
cocoa-nuts, &c., lay around, which had evidently been placed there as 
offerings. A large party of natives, who were with our gentlemen, on 
seeing them approach it, deserted, excepting a man and boy, who, con- 
trary to the others, seemed anxious for them to partake of the offerings 
which lay about, and offered to sell the idol, which was bought for a 
paper of vermilion. Neither of them, however, could be tempted to 
touch a single article himself, although they had no objection to our 
gentlemen doing so. On the next day, Mr. Peale returning from his 
jaunt, took his purchase and carried it on board. 
Tui Mora attended to the disposal of the different articles that were 
brought for sale, consisting principally of taro, yams, fruit (shaddocks, 
bananas, lemons, and cocoa-nuts), but not a pig was to be seen of any 
size; in fact, these people had but little food to spare. 
The houses are by no means as substantial as those at the principal 
towns of Ambau and Rewa;; their framework is much smaller, and 
the eaves extend to the ground. Both the walls and roof are of reeds, 
thatched. 
The chiefs of the Mbua district are not considered as belonging to 
the nobility of the islands, but to the class kai-si; it is only since the 
whites have frequented the islands, that this place has become of any 
note. Formerly Rawaike, Tui Mora’s father, the Tui Mbua, or lord 
of Mbua, governed the whole district, which comprises the coast 
from Buia Point to beyond Naloa on the north shore, or about one- 
sixth of the island of Vanua-levu, and is next to that of Nandi on the 
west, although there are two or three independent towns between them 
near Buia Point. 
In 1809, when Mr. Vanderford, who was master’s mate on board 
the Vincennes, was there, Rawaike was very powerful, and exercised 
