292 MALOLO. 
brats, the forty-seventh and forty-eighth, and trusted before he died he 
would have two more to make up fifty, for his ambition was altogether 
in that way now. I endeavoured again to find out the cause of Paddy’s 
banishment from Levuka, in order to discover by what secret laws or 
rules this small community of whites governed themselves; but he 
would not tell me. He only said that it was as much as his life was 
worth to remain beyond his time. He appeared perfectly contented, 
and was more nearly allied to a savage in feeling and taste than any 
other white man I met with during the cruise. 
My observations being completed, I went on board the tender, 
(leaving the Porpoise taking in yams for the squadron,) and proceeded 
round the north side of the island, within the reef. The afternoon 
was a beautiful one, and the water unruffled. As we passed abreast 
of the valley of Voona, which is one of the most fruitful in the group, 
Mr. Agate succeeded in getting a sketch of it, which is extremely 
characteristic of Feejee scenery. 
One of those almost inaccessible peaks on which the natives locate 
their towns for safety, is conspicuous in this view. 
Sailing along the north side of the island, we passed many fish- 
weirs formed of reeds, into which the fish are sometimes driven. 
At other times the fish are lured by food into these traps at high 
water; the weir is then closed, and the fish taken at low water. The 
women use the hand-net, which is thrown over the school. They have 
large seines for turtles, as well as smaller ones, both of which resemble 
our own, the weights being small bits of coral, while for floats they 
use the seed of the Barringtonia. These nets are all well made. 
They likewise make pens of stones, into which they drive the fish, 
and capture them either by spearing or when the water runs out at low 
tide. It is also a custom with them to dam up small streams, and 
stupify the fish with the Glycine. 
Hand-nets are sometimes used in a peculiar manner, thus: when 
they see a large fish take refuge in the coral shelf, they surround the 
place with a net and drive the fish out into it. 
We passed round the island, in the tender, as far as the island of 
Moturiki, under which we anchored, intending to proceed the next 
day to examine the bay of Ambau, and to have communication if pos- 
sible with that town. 
On the 5th, at an early hour, we stood for Ambau. The wind, 
however, was ahead for the greater part of the distance, and so light 
that I found we could not reach that place without much detention. 
Having no business to transact there, I thought it might occasion some 
delay if I landed, and thus interfere with our other duties, as well as 
