360 FEEJEE GROUP. 
The missionaries have already been settled from one to five years 
at the different stations. A press has been established at Rewa, and 
catechisms have been published in the Ambau, Somu-somu, and Rewa 
dialects. The book of Mark, with some elementary works, have also 
been published in the dialect of Rewa and Lakemba. 
All the missionaries with whom | had intercourse, were of opinion 
that the natives of this group were far more intelligent than those of 
other parts of Polynesia. There are few of them that could not 
express themselves with great clearness and force. My own experi- 
ence, and that of the officers generally, is conclusive as to the last 
point, for the interpreters frequently made use of expressions that I am 
well persuaded did not emanate from themselves. 
Since we left the Feejee Islands, a letter has been received from 
David Whippy, giving a history of the transactions that have occurred 
in this group up to 1841. I shall relate the substance of this, as it will 
illustrate the intrigues and cruelties incident to the character and 
government of this savage people. 
The pilots all reached Levuka safely, three days after they left us, 
and found all things well, except the garden, which, David says, had 
come to nought. He was not aware that we ourselves had gathered 
some of the fruits of it. 
Shortly after their return, the mountaineers showed hostile inten- 
tions towards them. The reason assigned for this, and which was 
altogether untrue, was, that the three mountaineers who had been 
employed at the observatory had never been paid, and that the white 
men of Levuka were the cause of it. About the same time, Seru and 
his cousin Wai-nue quarrelled at Ambau, which the latter left, and 
went to Somu-somu, where he was kindly received. This event caused 
the war that had been so long in expectation to break out between 
Ambau and Somu-somu. 
Seru came to Levuka, and wanted the white men to engage in the 
war on his side; but they refused, preferring to remain at home to 
protect their property, as the natives of Levuka were to accompany 
him. This greatly affronted him. He then went against Somu-somu, 
but came back in a few days, having failed in his expedition. 
In November, the mountaineers ran away with nine of the women 
of Levuka. On application being made to Ambau, Seru sent to de- 
mand that they should be returned, but the mountaineers refused to 
give them up. It was afterwards understood that Seru had privately 
told his messenger to tell the mountaineers not to give the women up, 
—an act of duplicity which the whites accounted for by their refusal 
to join him against Somu-somu. 
