Introduction of fi 



IU 1(11 of UNvnu. 



nVt.LAU. 



Atcc»»ion of Tanoa. 



lift 



Amhau is now the most powerful of these dis- 

 tricts, although it U in itwlf but a small island on 

 the coast, nnd connected with Vitilcvu ; but it is 

 tbo residence of most of the great chiefs, mid, as I 

 have before observed, Tallin, the most powerful 

 chief of all the inlands, lives there. The original 

 inhabitants of Amhau were called Kai Levuka, and 

 are of Tonga descent. During the absence of most 

 of the natives on a trading voyage to Lakomba, 

 the natives of Moturiki, a neighbouring island, 

 made a descent upon Ambau, and took possession 

 of it, ever since which the Kai Levuka liave 

 remained a broken people: they Mill retain their 

 original name, but are now only wandering traders; 

 they have no fixed place of residence, and are 

 somewhat of the character of the Jews. They 

 reside principally at Lakembn, Soimi-soinu, Vuna, 

 ami occasional!} at other islands. Most of the 

 exchftOga trade is in their bauds ; their hereditary 

 chief resides ul Lnkcmba; they arc much respected, 

 and when llu-y visit Amhau, they are treated with 

 the best of every thine;, ill acknowledgment of tln ir 

 original right to the huil. At Ambau there are 

 flow two classes, one known by the mime of Kai 

 Amhau, or original people of Amhau, and the other 

 as Kai Lasikau, who were introduced from a small 

 island near Kanlavu, some sixty years since, to 

 fish for the chiefs; these are considered as inferior 

 to Kai Amhau, hut are not exactly slaves. About 

 eight years before our arrival, disseusions arose 

 between these two classes, which resulted in 

 Tanoa's being expelled, and obliged to seek refuge 

 in another part of his dominions. 



According to Whippy, at the commencement of 

 the present century, Bamivt ruled at Amhau ; he 

 was succeeded by his son Ulivon. At this time 

 Venita was the principal city of the Feejees, and 

 its chiefs held the rule : this city or town is about 

 eight miles from Ambau, on Vitilcvu ; the islands 

 of Ovolau, Goto, Ambatikl, Angau, and others 

 were subject to it, aa was also Rewa, The intro- 

 duction of fire-arms brought about a great change 

 of power; this happened in the year 1009. The 

 brig Eliza was w recked on the reef off Nnirai, and 

 had both guns ami powder on board. Nairai was 

 at this time a dependency of Amhau, and many of 

 flic crew, in order to preserve their lives, showed the 

 natives the use of (to thorn) the new instrument. 

 Among the crew was a Swede, called Charley Sa- 

 vage, who acted a very conspicuous part in the 

 group for some few years. These men joined the 

 Amhau people, instructed them in the use of the 

 musket, and assisted them in their wars. The chief 

 of Ambau was at that time Ulivou, who gladly 

 availed himself of their services, granting them 

 many privileges ; among others, it is said that 

 Charley Savage had a hundred wives ! Taking ad- 

 vantage of all the means he now possessed to ex- 

 tend his own power and reduce that of Verata, he 

 finally succeeded, either by lighting or intrigue, in 

 cutting off all its dependencies, leaving the chief of 

 Verata only his town to rule over. 



In the early part of UIivou'b reign a conspiracy 

 broke out against him, but he discovered it, and 

 was ablo to expel the rebels from Ambau. They 

 lied to Rewa, where they made some show of resist- 

 ance; he however overcame them. They then 

 lock refuge on th.ro, where he again sought them, 

 pursued them to Somu-somu, ami drove them 

 thence. Their next step was to go to Lakomba, in 



order to collect a large fleet of canoes and riches, 

 for the purpose of gaining allies on Vitilcvu; but 

 they were again pursued, and being met with at sen, 

 were completely destroyed. Tin.-, fully DttabHahod 

 I livou's authority, and the latter part of his reign 

 was unmarked by any disturbances or rebellion 

 against his rule, lie died in M2t). Tanoa, his 

 brother, the present king, was at this time at La- 

 Itomkn, on one of the eastern islands, engaged, 

 according to Whippy, in building a large canoe, 

 which In- named Ndranuivio (the via-lcaf), a large 

 plant of the arum species. When the news 

 reached him he immediately embarked for Am- 

 bau, and on Ids arrival found all the chiefs 

 disposed to make him king. It is said that 

 he at first refused the dignity, lest "they should 

 moke a fool of him but by promises and persua- 

 sion he was induced to accede. Preparations were 

 accordingly made to install him. This ceremony 

 is performed by the Levuka people, the origin* 

 inhabitants of Ambau, uniting with those of Kutnba, 

 inhabiting a town near Kamba Point, the most 

 eastern point of Vitilcvu, and about ten miles east 

 of Ambau. As soon as the chiefs of Ambau have 

 elected a king, they make a grand ava party, and 

 the first cup ih handed to the newly-elected chief, 

 who receives ihe titlo of Vnnivalu. Some time 

 after this, the Kamba and Levuka people are 

 called in to make the installation, and confer the 

 title of royalty. It in related, that while the pre- 

 parations for this ceremony were going on, the 

 chiefs of Amhau were restless, and determined to 

 make war upon Rewa, a place always in rivnlry, 

 about fifteen miles distant from Ambau, to the 

 s./uth. Tanoa, however, was well disposed towards 

 the people of this district, being a Vasu of Rewa. 

 There are three kinds of Vnsus, Vasu-togai, Vasu- 

 levu, and Vasu. The first is the highest title, and 

 is derived from the mother being queen of Ambau. 

 Vasu-lovu is where the mother is married to ono 

 of the great chiefs of Rewa, Somu-aomu, or 

 Mutlmata, and the name of*Vasu extends not only 

 to the minor chiefs, but also down to the common 

 people. It confers rights and privileges of great 

 . xicut, and is exclusively derived from the mother 

 being a high chief or w ife of some of the reigning 

 kings. It gives the person a right to seize upon 

 and appropriate to his own use any thing belonging 

 to at) inhabitant of hift mother's native place, and 

 even the privilege of taking things from the 

 sovereign himself, and this without resistance, 

 dispute, or hesitation, however much prized or 

 valuable the article may be. In the course of this 

 narrative, some instances of the exercise of thin 

 power will be related. Tanoa therefore used ail 

 his efforts to prevent an outbreak, but without 

 success, and he was compelled to carry on the war. 

 lie, however, secretly gave encouragement, and, it 

 is said, even assistance, to the opposite party ; this 

 becoming known, produced much difficulty and 

 discontent among the Ambau chiefs and people. 

 Notwithstanding this, he at length contrived to 

 bring about a truce, and iui ited many of the Rewa 

 chiefs and people to visit him, whom he received 

 with great distinction. This incensed his new sub- 

 jects very much ; nnd on his presenting to the late 

 enemy his new and large canoe, Ndranuivio, their 

 indignation «as greatly increased, and caused some 

 of them even to enter into a plot to murder him. 

 Among the conspirators were the head chiefs, Sun 



