there was a general clapping of hands; but when the lower order of chiefs were served, this was not observed, and in lieu of it, there was a general exclamation of "Sa madaa," (it is empty.) Afier ava the king rinses his mouth, lights his cigar or pipe, and lolls on his mat It was laughable to see the king's barber take his ava; as he is not allowed to touch any thing with his hands, it becomes necessary that the cup shall be held for him by another person, who also feeds him. One of the officers gave him a cigar, which was lighted and put in his mouth, and when he wished to remove it, he did it in a very ingenious manner by twisting a small twig around it.

The king made many inquiries, spoke of his riches, his patent rifle, and the feast he intended to give; but he wanted a double-barrelled gun. He likewise spoke of being desirous of sending his two little girls (the only children he has) to the missionary school, but their attendants (they have male nurses) were such thieves they would steal every thing they could lay their hands on from the missionaries, and in this way would give him a great deal of trouble. Captain Hudson induced him to promise to build the missionaries comfortable houses, as soon as the weather became good and he had received his tribute from Kantavu. He spoke kindly of the missionaries, and seemed well satisfied that their object was to do himself and his people good. The king ordered his household to chaunt a kind of song, for the amusement of his guests, the subject of which was the adventures of a chief on a voyage, after leaving his wife, and her resolution to destroy herself in consequence of his failing to return.

About nine o'clock the fireworks were exhibited. When the first rocket was sent off, the natives exhibited fear and excitement; the king seized Captain Hudson by the hand and trembled like a leaf. When the rockets burst, and displayed their many stars, they all seemed electrified. The effect produced by the blue-lights on the dark groups of naked figures, amazed and bewildered as they were, was quite striking, particularly as the spectacle was accompanied by the uncouth sounds of many conchs, and by the yell of the savages, to drive away the spirits they supposed to be let loose and flying in the air. Paddy Connel, alias Berry, told them that nothing but the unwillingness we had to do them injury prevented us from sending them to Ambau, ten miles distant, and he said there was no doubt that they believed that it could be done. This exhibition excited the wonder and amazement of all the country round, and induced them to believe that these flying spirits were collected for the destruction of Rewa, and that they themselves would be the next to suffer.

After the fireworks they all retired, Captain Hudson taking up his

abode with the king, and continuing to talk with him until a late hour. When they retired to their sleeping apartments, he found his place of rest was divided by tapa-cloths and screens from the rest of the apartments of the house, and well furnished with musquito-netting. Ere he got to sleep, he was surprised to find his musquito-net moving, and still more so when he saw the figure of a woman, one of the king's own wives, of whom he has a large number, endeavouring to become his bedfellow. This was to him an unexpected adventure, and an honour of which he was not ambitious. He therefore called loudly for Paddy Connel and Jimmy, the king's body-servant and cup-bearer, and through them very politely declined the honour; but the lady positively refused to go away, saying that she had been sent by the king, and must sleep there; that she durst not go away, for the king would club her! She was told that she must go, that the matter would be arranged with the king in the morning, and she need have no fears about it. She then left the musquito-net, although with evident alarm as to the consequences, and would go no further. Seeing this, Captain Hudson sent Jimmy to the king, to say he did not wish a bedfellow; to which the monarch replied it was well, and directed the woman to withdraw, which she did as soon as satisfied that it was the king's command. This circumstance, together with the continued trampling of the mice, with which the palace is overrun, drove away any thing like sleep; and Captain Hudson, in self-defence, was obliged to pass the remainder of the night with Paddy and Jimmy over the fire.

As soon as the day dawned, his majesty, who is an early riser, called for his ava, and her majesty called out lustily for Jimmy to light a cigar and bring it to her in bed, for she is as fond of cigars as her royal spouse. After the king had drunk his ava and smoked his cigar, they had breakfast of baked pig, taro, and yams. The repast was spread upon a mat; after which Captain Hudson, accompanied by the king and Paddy Connel, crossed the river, to the missionaries, where they partook of a second breakfast, the king behaving himself with great decorum at the table; and Paddy, too, took his second lunch behind the door, with great enjoyment. The king renewed his promises to build their houses, as soon as the weather became fine, and said that then he would not leave them until they were finished. This engagement, I am happy to say, he fully performed. After breakfast, they again crossed the river to Rewa, and, the weather having cleared up, the town presented an entirely different appearance. The scenery around Rewa is fine. There are in its neighbourhood many creeks, not unlike narrow canals, bordered on each side with rich and beautiful vegetation, resembling that of Oriental regions. Dr. Pickering

and Mr. Rich threaded many miles of these creeks, in the canoe of Mr. Cargill, who was kind enough to loan it to them. During this excursion they landed and went to a village, where they saw a wellplanned ball-alley, kept in good order, level and clean. Taro and sugar-cane were found to be extensively cultivated. After wading across several creeks, they finally reached an uncleared wood, consisting of large trees of Inocarpus, Barringtonia, and Uvaria, with Palms and Pandanus, resembling the vegetation of Ovolau. The country appeared very wet, and was full of mud-holes and small creeks, which rendered walking irksome. They returned to Rewa by dark, and the next day proceeded in another direction, when a Feejee dandy offered to be their guide, and was extremely attentive to them throughout their excursion. He refused all compensation, until a little girl, who was near, seeing a jews-harp, requested to have it. He then accepted it, and gave it to her. This act, together with his civil and attentive behaviour, produced a favourable impression upon them.

The town of Rewa, though in a low situation, has a picturesque though singular appearance. It extends about a mile along the river, and contains from five to six hundred houses of all sizes, from the lofty mbures with their pointed roofs, and the barn-like edifices of the chiefs, to the rickety shantees of the kai-sis, and the diminutive yamhouses, perched on four posts, to protect the yams from the depredations of the rats. It is every where intersected by narrow lanes, closely shut in with high reed fences.

The party visited the most conspicuous houses of the place. The first which they saw was the mbure, situated on the spot where the king's father was murdered; the mound on which it is built is an

artificial one, ten feet high. The mbure is about twelve feet square, and its sides or walls only four feet high; while its high-pitched roof rises to the height of about thirty feet. The walls and roof of the