TYE AND SUALIB. 257 
furnished the most characteristic specimen of the appearance of this 
people, of any I had seen; but the imagination must supply the place 
of a bright red lock on the side of the head. 
ASAUA WOMAN. 
From the top of Tau-tha-ke, the beautiful little bay of Ya-sau-y-lau 
appeared to lie at our feet, with the picturesque rock on its eastern 
side, having much resemblance to a ruined castle or impregnable 
fortress. This rock is entirely volcanic, with but little vegetation on 
it. Tradition states it to have been the abode of an immense bird, - 
called Ya-sau-y-lau, which it is said was in the habit of frequenting 
Vitilevu, where it would pounce upon the first individual it met, and 
carry him off to its eyrie for food. The natives of Vitilevu held it 
in great dread for a long time, but desperation drove them to seek its 
abode on this rock, where they were so fortunate as to find the bird 
asleep on its nest, and killed it. 
Tau-tha-ke was found to be seven hundred and eighty-one feet in 
height. 
The boats’ crews pitched their tents on shore for the night, near the 
schooner’s anchorage. During our visit to Tau-tha-ke, although the 
natives appeared friendly, and were powerless from the late depreda- 
tions, I thought it necessary to get the chief safe on board the tender as 
a hostage. I found him very ready to comply, for they were always 
sure of receiving presents when the time was up. After we returned 
on board, he remained during the evening, when we sent up some of 
our “fiery spirits,” which greatly astonished him. He seemed to be 
more intelligent than the others we had met with. Through the 
interpreter I asked him several questions; among others, what would 
become of him and his people when they died. The answer was 
VOL. III. 33 
