REW A. 121 
Whilst he was employed in sketching these, he witnessed the de- 
livery of their tribute by the people of Kantavu. When the king was 
seated in state, with his principal officers around him, the chiefs of 
Kantavu appeared, each encircled with many folds of tapa and mats. 
After leaving their clubs, &c., near the door, they entered, crouching 
upon their hands and feet, and thus passed round the semicircle to 
their appointed places. Their chief continued to proceed towards the 
king, and when near, presented his majesty with a whale’s tooth, 
neatly slung in the manner of a powder-horn. The king, on receiving 
it, answered, “ Endina.” ‘The chief then retired, and was followed by 
another, who, after disburdening himself of the tapa in which he was 
enveloped, gave place to another, and so on to the last. Each offering 
was acknowledged by the king in the same tone of voice and manner. 
When all had been received, they retired in the same order they had 
entered, and the king took especial care to place the new acquisitions 
among his valuables. This was understood to be the tribute for a year. 
These presents are usually received in the square before the king’s 
house, and a dance generally follows. But owing to the heavy rains, 
which had converted, not only this spot, but the whole of Rewa, into 
a mud-puddle, they were deprived of an opportunity of witnessing one 
of these tribute dances; a deprivation which they much regretted, for 
foreigners seldom have an opportunity of seeing them. 
The expedition under Licutenant Budd, that went to explore the 
river, had now returned, after having proceeded forty-five miles above 
Rewa, which is ten miles farther than it had been before ascended. 
The party consisted of Lieutenant Budd, Passed Midshipman Davis, 
and Mr. Peale, with two boats. They left the ship at one o’clock, and 
in consequence of rain took refuge in an mbure at the town of Vatia. 
There they found a large quantity of arms, collected by a tax on each 
male, of a spear, club, &c. These being kept in a consecrated place, 
the wounds made by them are considered as always fatal, while the 
same kind of injury by a new or unconsecrated spear would heal. 
They had here an opportunity of seeing the reverence paid to Phillips, 
who is a very high chief. Whenever the natives saw him, they in- 
variably dropped on their hams until he passed; when he spoke to 
them, they clapped the palms of their hands together; and in his 
presence none presumed to walk upright. 
In the village they saw quantities of the cyrenas and lingula shells, 
the tenants of which had been eaten by the inhabitants. They found 
subsequently on their trip, that the former made excellent soup. This 
village is famous for its pottery, and some earthen jars were seen that 
would hold a barrel of water. The clay of which they are made is 
VOL. Il. 16 
