Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/35

 OEIGESr AND POLITY. 15 oured with the name of Na Vii-ni-valu, that is, " The Root of War," a title which his successors have since borne. Aided by the white men named in the preceding chapter, and employing the new power supplied by fire-arms, this Chief made war on Verata, took possession of its de- pendencies, and left its sovereign little more to rule over than his own town. Na-Ulivou died in 1829, and was succeeded by his brother Ta- noa. He died at an advanced age, a heathen and cannibal, December 8th, 1852. His reign of twenty-three years was not happy or peaceful. Ee- bellious subjects and rebellious sons filled it with anxiety. Once he had to fly his chief city ; and for a number of years his fear of Eaivalita — one of his sons — kept him a close prisoner. Several years before his death, old age disqualified Tanoa for the discharge of the active duties of his position, which were attended to by one of his sons acting in the capacity of Regent. Tanoa Avas a proud man : when grey and wTinkled, he tried to hide these marks of old age by a plentiful application of black powder. He was also cruel and implacable. Mothelotu, one of his cousins, was so unhappy as to offend him, and sought with tears and en- treaties for forgiveness ; but the purpose of the cruel Chief was fixed, that Mothelotu should die. After havmg kissed his relative, Tanoa cut off his arm at the elbow, and drank the blood as it flowed warm from the severed veins. The arm, still quivering with life, he threw upon a fire, and, when sufficiently cooked, ate it in presence of its proper owner, who was then dismembered, limb, by limb, while the savage murderer looked with pitiless brutality on the dying agonies of his victim. At a later period, Tanoa sentenced his youngest son to die by the club. The blow given by the brother who was appointed as his ex- ecutioner, was not fatal. The father knowing of his entreaty for mercy, shouted angrily, " Kill him ! Kill him ! " and the horrible act was com- pleted. Nearly the last words spoken by this man of blood were formed into the question, " How many will follow me ^ " meaning, " How many women do you intend to strangle at my death ? " Being assured that five of his wives would then be sacrificed, he died with satisfaction. The name of the tribe from which the Kings of Mbau are taken is Tui Kam- ba. The four chief personages or families in this state are the Rokotu- imbau, the Tunitonga, the Vusarandavi, and the Tui Kamba. Mbau, as has been already intimated, is the present centre of political power in Eiji. Its supremacy is acknowledged in nearly all parts of the group. The kingdoms named as subject to it are so but nominally, ren- dering it homage rather than servitude. The other leading powers are, Rewa, Somosomo, Verata, Lakemba, Naitasiri, Mathuata, and Mbua. Two kinds of subjection are recognised and distinguished in Fiji,