Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/125

 THE PEOPLE. 99 knew a little of the language, and went ashore to ask where they were. A native, who had adjusted his masi in the style of a lotu dress, said, "This is Somosomo; we are Christians, and I am Teacher in this place." This was pleasant news to the inquirer ; but, on lookmg round, he saw the wreck of a boat on the beach, and on one of the natives a pea-jacket which had belonged to a white man who had miserably per- ished by the hands of the savages. Though his suspicions were thus aroused, the sailor preserved his self-command, and very composedly replied, "This is good; this is the land I seek : I will return and bring my companions on shore." Directly on reaching the canoe, he an- nounced their danger to his comrades, and the sail was immediately hoisted. A native who had laid hold on the end of the canoe was frightened off, by having a rusty musket presented at him. Those on shore, seeing their prey likely to escape, gave a loud shout, when many more rushed out from their ambush, and a shower of bullets followed the canoe. Several passed through the sail ; but as the savages fired high, the little party escaped uninjured, and one of them afterwards related the circumstances to me.

Here is another true tale of Fijian vengeance and deceit. Nalila, a late Chief of Lasakau, evaded the sentence of death for three years by keepmg himself a close prisoner on the island of Viwa. At the close of this term a reconciliation having been effected, and his enemies pro- fessing a sincere affection for him, the exile ventured to return to Mbau, where his restored friends lived, and passed a comfortable day with them. Ngavindi, his chief foe, was said to be sick, yet spent a little time in Nalila's company. On the second night, as they and sev- eral of their friends sat socially round the yaqona bowl, the report of a musket was heard, and Xalila fell. Ngavindi sprang on his feet to finish the deed with his club, when Nalila's father, hoary with age, begged him to show mercy, but only drew to himself the fury of the Chief, who, with one fierce blow of his club, struck the old man to the earth a corpse. The heart, liver, and tongue of Nalila were quickly cut away and devoured, and the mutilated body given up to the tears of the widow.

Covetousness, begetting envy, theft, and ingratitude, and leading to the blackest crimes, is strong in the Fijian. Prompted thereby, the natives have murdered white traders, to gain property of small value. The known prevalence of the same vice has caused the enactment of stringent regulations among the people themselves, such, for instance, as the tabu kalawatha. This means, to stride over, and, by accommoda- tion, to pass by, as a canoe in sailing by a town. If the town is one to