60 OVOLAU. 
but Vaki Levuka is ygali to Levuka, whilst the mountainous regions 
are independent and predatory. The term mbati signifies allies, or 
being under protection, though not actually subject to it. Ygali ex- 
presses that they are subjects, and compelled to pay tribute yearly, or 
obliged to satisfy the demands of the chiefs, whenever made upon 
them. 
Tui Levuka is the principal chief of Ovolau; his authority extends 
over eight towns on the east side. He is very friendly to the whites, 
and is represented by them to be a kind-hearted and honest chief: he 
is between forty and fifty years of age, and has a pleasing countenance; 
he rules his village with great popularity. It was amusing to see his 
bewilderment in attending to the various duties and offices he had to 
perform, in providing the large supplies of food, consisting of yams, 
taro, &c., that were required for our use; he was, however, very. 
industrious, and by the aid of Whippy, got through very well, though 
with much fear and trembling, lest he should be held accountable for 
any theft or depredations committed on our property, or accident to 
our men, in the various occupations that were all going forward at 
the same time, consisting of watering, wooding, digging gardens, 
making enclosures, building, as he said, towns, holding markets, and 
trading all day long for spears, clubs, shells, é&c.; he had great fears, 
too, of exciting the jealousy of the Ambau chiefs, who he judged would 
not like to see the advantages he was reaping from our lengthened 
stay, which would naturally enough bring their displeasure upon him. 
I found him of great use, and was in the habit of receiving from him 
almost daily, visits at the observatory, so that when Whippy was at a 
loss for any information relative to the islands, Tui Levuka was always 
at hand to supply it. 
The rest of the island is under the Ambau chiefs, or as they express 
it, ygali to Ambau, excepting the mountaineers, who are easily brought 
over to fight on any side, and are, from all accounts, true savages. 
Tui Levuka has never been properly installed into office, although 
from his courage and talent as a leader, he is highly respected. The 
circumstance which has prevented this ceremony from taking place 
was, that the Ambau chiefs succeeded by stratagem in getting posses- 
* sion of Ovolau about fifteen years ago, or in 1825, before which time 
it had belonged to Verata, with which Ambau was at war. The 
Verata chiefs had been always in the habit of installing the chiefs, but 
since they have lost Ovolau, they refuse to perform the rite, and the 
Ambau chiefs will not exercise it, on account of religious dread, and 
the fear of offending their gods. 
The islands of Wakaia and Mokungai, near that of Ovolau, are 
