MBUA BAY AND MUTHUATA. 213 
a 
After all this business was finished, a feast was given to the king 
and chiefs. At this they took a particular fancy to the wine, of which 
they seemed inordinately fond. Presents were then made to them, 
consisting of brass kettles, shawls, hatchets, pipes, tobacco, plane-irons, 
and small looking-glasses. 
Old Tui Mbua readily agreed to accompany the boats to the Asaua 
Group, showing thereby great confidence on his part, and an intention 
to be at peace, by leaving his people at the time certainly liable to 
many contingencies, which it was impossible for us to guard against, 
from the treachery of those with whom he had been at war. He, 
however, left an old chief, called Raritona, his counsellor, to act for 
him during his absence. 
During the time occupied in the arrangement of these affairs, the 
first and second cutters were prepared for an expedition to the Asaua 
Cluster. Of this, Lieutenant Emmons, with Passed Midshipman 
Blunt, were placed in charge, with his majesty for a pilot, and two 
white men as interpreters. Tui Mora, who was quite an intelligent 
young man, remained on board, with several of his chiefs. Divine 
service was performed, at which they were present, and behaved with 
great decorum and propriety. They all, including the old king, ex- 
pressed a great desire to have missionaries settle among them, and said 
they would take good care of them, believing that they would put an 
end to their wars ; for where missionaries lived there were no wars.” 
This kind of talk is very common among the Feejee chiefs, for 
deceit is a part of their national character. They are very quick in 
discerning what will please those whom they wish to conciliate, 
and readily accede to their views. That this was the case with these 
people, there can be but little doubt; for, as far as my experience 
goes, the Feejee character is entirely at variance with the ideas 
they expressed. They have imbibed these notions from the whites, 
which will, in time, however, do good, because they believe that 
what the whites possess is better than that belonging to the dark- 
coloured race. They may thus become fixed, and rendered really 
desirous of obtaining the residence of those who are not only 
the pioneers of religion, but of civilization also, in the islands of 
Polynesia. 
On the 8th June, Captain Hudson set about the survey of Sandal- 
wood Bay. He then, with the naturalists and many of the officers, 
visited the shore. There are three rivers that flow into the bay; the 
middle one of these they entered. It has two entrances for boats. It 
is bordered on each side by extensive mud-flats, which are bare at 
low water for a considerable distance. Parts of these flats are covered 
