222 MBUA BAY AND MUTHUATA. 
rank is generally kept on board as a hostage. When these precau- 
tions have not been taken, accidents have frequently happened. 
The biche de mar is sometimes carried to Canton, but more usually 
to Manilla, whence it is shipped to China.* 
The bay of Naloa is a wide opening, protected on the north by two 
or three small islets, some of which are inhabited. One of them has 
been bought by the Lasikaus or fishermen, who gave Tui Mbua three 
hundred whales’ teeth for it. It is not long since they settled on it, 
having been driven from their former location by the war-parties of 
the Ambau people, and taken refuge here. 
Their town, Tavea, although of recent date, is already enveloped 
ina banana grove. ‘The growth of these trees is well adapted for the 
purposes of the natives, and they seldom fail to plant them as soon as 
they begin to build, and by the time their houses are finished and 
occupied, they already yield shade for the planters to retire to in the 
heat of the day. The employment of fishing is considered one of the 
most honourable among the natives. 
Veraki, the chief of Tavea, has the reputation among the whites of 
being “a hearty old cock and a great rascal.” 
On another of these islets, which is uninhabited, Captain Eagleston 
has his biche de mar house. The town of Votua on Vanua-levu has 
been the residence of Tui Mbua, since he was driven or expelled 
from Mbua Bay. 
Captain Hudson was desirous of obtaining both wood and water, 
and made arrangements accordingly for their being brought off by 
the natives. This he succeeded in doing, because the chiefs are 
very willing that their subjects should work, when they have all the 
profit of their labour. The natives here were very friendly, and the 
chief desirous of serving us. 
The town of Votua lies about a mile from the shore. It contains 
about fifty buildings, including temples, houses, and yam-houses, which 
* In order to show the profits which arise from the trade in biche de mar, I give the 
cost and returns of five cargoes, obtained by Captain Eagleston in the Feejee Group. 
These he obligingly favoured me with. 
PICULS. COST OF OUTFIT. SALES. 
Ist voyage 4 : 617 ; ; $1,101 5 : $8,021 
Pyal 2 : : 700 : : 1,200 : ; 17,500 
Sd 0 . 1,080 ¢ . 3,396 b 5 15,120 
4th “ : 5 840 . . ~ 1,200 : : 12,600 
Sth “ d - 1,200 3 0 3,500 4 . 27,000 
A further profit also arises from the investment of the proceeds in Canton. Captain 
Eagleston also obtained 4,488 pounds of tortoise-shell, at a cost of $5,700, which sold in the 
United States for $29,050 net. ; 
