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mbure are constructed of canes about the size of a finger, and each one is wound round with sennit as thick as a cod-line, made from the cocoa-nut husk. At a little distance, the whole house looked as though it was built of braided cord, and presented a singular and curious appearance, creating a favourable idea of the skill as well as labour expended in its construction.

There are others of small dimensions, of which the wood-cut on the preceding page, will give an idea. These are generally used as the depositories of the chiefs or persons of note.

The next building visited was that of the king's women. This is one hundred and eighty feet in length, twenty-four feet wide, and thirty feet high. Here were a number of women engaged in making mats, tapa, and baskets. They were gay and merry, though busily engaged at their work.

Another large spirit-house was next visited, in which the mountaineers congregate; and on their exit from it they saw a bull near the door, which the natives, in essaying to follow the party, had to encounter. It was not a little amusing to see them spitting at the beast to drive him off.

Ngaraningiou's dwelling was then visited. This is considered the most elegant house in the Feejees. It is very elaborately ornamented with sennit and braid. Order and decorum reign throughout, for Ngaraningiou is extremely dignified and reserved in his domicile, and is reputed to be somewhat of a tyrant. He will not suffer any of the natives to approach and gaze in at his doors, which is a common practice with them; and when, on one occasion, a stranger took the liberty to peep in at his door, he is said to have asked him if his head was made of iron that he dared thus to presume.

Thokanauto's house was occupied by several of our gentlemen during their stay. It is quite a large establishment, and was one of the noisiest that can well be imagined; for Phillips himself being absent with the boats, his wife did not possess the requisite authority to maintain order. On the first night of their lodging there, about fifty persons, men, women, and children, were collected, feasting, drinking ava, and maintaining a prodigious racket. They were apparently engaged in detailing and discussing the events that had taken place on board ship, and the narrative was constantly interrupted by jokes, laughter, expressions of astonishment, and arguments leading to sharp words, until the shrill voice of the young mistress of the mansion was heard in earnest expostulation. The eloquence of Phillips's orator, and his many barbers, was not to be so easily repressed; and, after a few moments' silence, an altercation arose, that gradually grew into a quarrel and

terminated in a furious fight, in which one of the combatants was thrown against the musquito-bar serving as a screen to our gentlemen. breaking down one end of it. They now sought their arms, and placed themselves on their guard for self-protection, not knowing what Feejee ferocity and treachery might bring about. The hostess at last interfered with some effect, and put down the commotion, and the house was quieted for the night, excepting the rats and mice, which during the nocturnal hours took full possession. Little can one imagine the noise of these rat races; Whittington's cat, here, would indeed be worth her golden price.

Mr. Agate made good use of his short stay at Rewa. While wandering about, he was met by a priest, who came to him and signified by signs he wished him to sketch something, and at the same time pointing to a house. Mr. Agate followed him in. There were a large number of retainers present, and shortly after his entrance a man was aroused from his mat, who said he wished his likeness taken. His head was dressed in the most elaborate and extravagant fashion of Rewa, and from the number of his retainers he appeared to be a high chief. A day or two after he proved to be the notorious Vendovi, brother to the king, and the person whom we desired to capture. He had his face smeared with oil and lamp-black.

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From his head-dress our gentlemen recognised him as the individual who had been their guide in one of the short excursions they had made in the neighbourhood, and with whom they had been so much pleased when they offered him a reward for his services.

Mr. Agate also obtained good likenesses of the king and queen.

Whilst he was employed in sketching these, he witnessed the delivery of their tribute by the people of Kantavu. When the king was seated in state, with his principal officers around him, the chiefs of Kantavu appeared, each encircled with many folds of tapa and mats. After leaving their clubs, &c., near the door, they entered, crouching upon their hands and feet, and thus passed round the semicircle to their appointed places. Their chief continued to proceed towards the king, and when near, presented his majesty with a whale's tooth, neatly slung in the manner of a powder-horn. The king, on receiving it, answered, "Endina." The chief then retired, and was followed by another, who, after disburdening himself of the tapa in which he was enveloped, gave place to another, and so on to the last. Each offering was acknowledged by the king in the same tone of voice and manner. When all had been received, they retired in the same order they had entered, and the king took especial care to place the new acquisitions among his valuables. This was understood to be the tribute for a year. These presents are usually received in the square before the king's house, and a dance generally follows. But owing to the heavy rains, which had converted, not only this spot, but the whole of Rewa, into a mud-puddle, they were deprived of an opportunity of witnessing one of these tribute dances; a deprivation which they much regretted, for foreigners seldom have an opportunity of seeing them.

The expedition under Lieutenant Budd, that went to explore the river, had now returned, after having proceeded forty-five miles above Rewa, which is ten miles farther than it had been before ascended. The party consisted of Lieutenant Budd, Passed Midshipman Davis, and Mr. Peale, with two boats. They left the ship at one o'clock, and in consequence of rain took refuge in an mbure at the town of Vatia. There they found a large quantity of arms, collected by a tax on each male, of a spear, club, &c. These being kept in a consecrated place, the wounds made by them are considered as always fatal, while the same kind of injury by a new or unconsecrated spear would heal. They had here an opportunity of seeing the reverence paid to Phillips, who is a very high chief. Whenever the natives saw him, they invariably dropped on their hams until he passed; when he spoke to them, they clapped the palms of their hands together; and in his presence none presumed to walk upright.

In the village they saw quantities of the cyrenas and lingula shells, the tenants of which had been eaten by the inhabitants. They found subsequently on their trip, that the former made excellent soup. This village is famous for its pottery, and some earthen jars were seen that would hold a barrel of water. The clay of which they are made is

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