156 



PHYSICAL HISTORY OF MAN. 



of forming a correct opinion, considered Thokanauto as being "in 

 reality a very cruel man; and as continuing to indulge in the national 

 propensity, although he now takes pains to conceal the fact from 

 Europeans." 



On the 21st, the king and queen of Rewa, together with Ngara- 

 ningiou and Thokanauto, visited the Peacock. One of our survey- 

 flags having been stolen, the delinquent was now brought to us, 

 already, however, punished by the "deprivation of his house, lands, 

 wife, and all his property." Residents thought, that the king was 

 probably " not unwilling to avail himself of an excuse to take the 

 property :" from which it may be inferred, that the regal authority is 

 not unlimited on this point; or at least, that it is exercised with some 

 discretion. 



As is related in the Narrative of the Expedition, the royal family 

 were detained by Captain Hudson, until Veindovi should be given 

 up. Thokanauto was apart from the others, when the drum beat to 

 quarters, but he at once showed signs of distrust. It was a severe 

 blow to his special interests, Veindovi being a partisan. He, how- 

 ever, put the best face on the matter, and made himself merry about 

 the alarm of the king and queen. A native selling a pig, for which 

 he was to receive a hatchet, Thokanauto said, " Feejee man fool 

 White man, for the pig is not fat, but me fool Feejee man ;" i. e. by 

 taking the hatchet himself; but after a while, he returned it. Inter- 

 course with the shore being prohibited, one of the canoes alongside 

 got astray, and was on tlie point of receiving a shot, when it was re- 

 called with the aid of Thokanauto. The two other royal brothers, it 

 was understood, acknowledged privately that "they were afraid of 

 Veindovi, and considered him their enemy." Ngaraningiou was 

 despatched to bring him on board. 



Some forty natives remained on board the Peacock ; and in the 

 evening, under the direction of Thokanauto, they performed a dance, 

 singing in a monotonous tone, and keeping time by clapping hands; 

 according to the well-known Arab custom. The Feejeeans have a 

 great variety of dances; some of them making an unexpected ap- 

 proach to a system of military tactics : and the children even, dance 

 with singular precision. Unlike the majority of the Polynesian 

 dances, only in a single instance did I witness one that was indecent. 



On the following day, Veindovi was brought on board ; and after a 

 long conversation with him, the king took leave. We had proposed 

 carrying Thokanauto around the group, but he likewise went away, 



