REW A. 12 
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waged with the people of Ambau. All the inhabitants were observed 
to be clustered in the villages, for the purpose of mutual protection ; 
and the same reason causes them to choose as their sites for building, 
either some inaccessible point, or a place that affords facility for forti- 
fication. 
Five miles above Coronganga, the country changes its character ; 
the river passes by cliffs of sandstone five hundred feet in height, 
whose stratification dips ten degrees to the eastward. Ranges of 
hills now rear themselves to a goodly height, and extend some miles 
back into the interior. 
They next passed the town of Naitasiri, where one of the brothers 
of Phillips, called Savou, is chief. Naitasiri is the capital of this 
district, and is next in power to Rewa, on the island of Vitilevu. 
Phillips was not disposed to land here; for a misunderstanding had 
occurred between him and his brother, in consequence of Savou 
having taken charge, for Phillips, of some two hundred hogs, of 
which, when demanded after a short time, only ten or fifteen were to 
be found, Savou having either eaten or given away the remainder. 
Cornubalavoo went on shore in his canoe, and took Savou on board, 
who spoke as he passed Phillips, but the latter would not condescend 
to return his salutation. 
As they passed further up the river, they were preceded by Savou, 
and when opposite the town of Tavu-tavu, a canoe came off with a 
present of baked taro and yams, from Savou to Phillips and Lieu- 
tenant Budd. This was considered as a peace-offering, and appeared 
to be acceptable, at least to the vanity of Phillips. 
In the vicinity of this village there was much sugar-cane growing. 
Just above it is an elbow in the river, the point formed by which was 
that reached by Captain Bethune, of H. B. M. sloop of war Conway. 
This Lieutenant Budd called Bethune’s Point. They shortly after- 
wards passed the small town of Viti, opposite to which is a cliff four 
hundred feet in height, overgrown with shrubbery ; and near this many 
streamlets enter the river. Just after passing this place, the guides 
pointed out a creek that led to Ambau. ‘The country appeared here 
more thickly peopled than that below ; many more natives were seen, 
and the whole surface was well cultivated. There was great astonish- 
ment evinced at the appearance of our boats, and it is believed our 
people were the first whites who had been thus far in the interior. 
The mountain district was reached at thirty-six miles from the 
mouth of the river, and the ridges were from twelve to fifteen hundred 
feet high. The Wailevu, which I have named Peale’s river, here 
makes a turn to the westward of four miles, to a point where it divides 
