64 OVOLAU. 
means to frustrate their plans openly, but appears to have been some- 
what on his guard. 
In the third year of his reign, whilst on a visit to Ovolau to attend 
to his plantation of yams, the rebellion broke out, of which he was 
soon advised, and fled to Goro, where his enemies followed him; but 
he continued his flight to Somu-somu, the people of which had been 
always his friends and supporters. Here he found protection, his 
defenders being too numerous for his enemies. The conspirators tried, 
however, to urge upon them the propriety of giving up their king, 
saying that they only desired he should return and reign over them ; 
but the people of Somu-somu deemed this too shallow a pretence to be 
listened to. After Tanoa’s expulsion, the rebels installed his brother 
Komainokarinakula as king. Tanoa remained under the protection 
of the chief of Somu-somu for three years, in gratitude for which he 
made over to him all the windward islands, viz.: Lakemba, Naiau, 
&c. During all this period, Tanoa was carrying on a sort of warfare 
against the rebels, with the aid of the natives of the eastern group and 
those of Rewa, who remained faithful to him, encouraging them all in 
his power, collecting his revenue from the former, which he distri- 
buted bountifully among his adherents, and buying over others to his 
interests. 
As Tanoa was about to sail for Lakemba, word was brought to him, 
that his nephew, called Nona, residing on Naiau, a neighbouring island, 
had been bribed by the chiefs to put him to death. He therefore, on 
his way, stopped at Naiau, and when his nephew approached him 
under the guise of friendship, Tanoa at once caused him, with all his 
family and adherents, to be seized and put to death. 
Tanoa, finding his strength increasing, concluded to prosecute the 
war with more activity. In order to do so, after having first collected 
all his means, he removed to Rewa, where he established himself, and 
began his secret intrigues to undermine and dissipate his enemies’ 
forces. He was so successful in this, that in a short time he had 
gained over all their allies, as well as the towns on the main land or 
large island in the vicinity, and even many of the chiefs at Ambau. 
The latter object was effected through the influence of his son, Ratu 
Seru, who had been suffered to remain there during the whole war, 
although not without frequent attempts being made on his life, which 
he escaped from through his unceasing vigilance and that of his adhe- 
rents. During the latter part of the time, he was constantly in com- 
munication with his father, who kept him well supplied with the articles 
in which the riches of the natives consist: these were liberally distri- 
