Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/474

 4A:0 FUI AXD THE FIJIAXS. " "We arrived at last at the residence of Thakombau himself, and here we were re- ceived with much ceremony. An entrance having been cleared for us through bundles of native cloth, immense coils of cordage, and other articles, the produce of the late visit of the Mbutoni tribe, the Chief himself^the most powerf'ul, perhaps, of any in the Pa- cific, and certainly the most energetic in character — was seen seated in the attitude of respect to receive us. He rose, however, as we entered, seeing that it was expected, un- folding, as he did so, an immense train of white native cloth, eight or ten yards long, from his waist, and invited me to occupy the one chair he possessed ; the others taking their seats on rolls of cloth, or, like the natives, sitting cross-legged on the floor. It was impossible but to admire the appearance of the Chief; of large, almost gigantic size, his limbs were beautifully formed and proportioned ; his countenance, with far less of the Negro cast than among the lower orders, agreeable and intelligent ; while his immense head of hair, covered and concealed with gauze, smoke-dried and slightly tinged with brown, gave him altogether the appearance of an eastern Sultan. Xo garments confined his magnificent chest and neck, or concealed the natural colour of the skin, a clear but decided black ; and in spite of this paucity of attire — the evident wealth which sur- rovmded him showing that it was a matter of choice and not of necessity — he looked an interview, but I confess I did not discover it. Xot far from him sat his principal and favourite wife, a stout, good-looking woman, with a smiling expression, and her son, Thakombau's heir, a fine boy of eight or nine ; and he was surrotmded at a respectful distance by a crowd of crouching courtiers." At this interview, Captain Erskine delivered an address to the Chie^ and Mr. Calvert interpreted. Cannibalism was denounced in terms of horror and disgust, and the King was urged to listen to the Mission- aries, and show his good intention by prohibiting all cannibalism at the approaching visit of the Somosomans, on which occasion it had always been customary to destroy an unsual number of human beings. It was intimated, that if these things were heeded, Fiji might, like Samoa, be favoured with the presence of a British Consul. The whole address was listened to respectfully, and acknowledged by a suitable reply. The party next visited Ngavindi's quarter of the town. Captain Erskine's narrative continues : — " As we approached his door, a party of men were engaged in taking out of a hot stone oven, constructed on one side of the pathway, a whole pig, intended for our entertain- ment ; and as we entered the house, a clapping of hands proclaimed that the Chief had that moment finished his draught of yangona. This party was evidently met to receive US, and we were soon seated in the centre of the circle, with Xgavindi, painted, and in full dress, with a flowing train, differing from Thakombau's in being of divers colours ; and his principal wife, a pretty young woman, attended by several hand-maidens, the dress of all the women being a decent petticoat. The pig was then brought in and pre- sented to me ; and having been, by my desire, cut up ral'a-FiJi, or in Fijian fashion, por- tions were handed roimd, together with excellent yams, on banana leaves and flat pieces of wood. Being asked how the rest was to be disposed of, I begged those present to ac- cept of a quarter, and desired the remainder to be sent down to the barge's crew. I heard afterwards that our men, having some suspicion that all was not right, had thrown it overboard ; but we, who had had ocular proof of its identity, had found it tender, juicy, and well-flavoured." "It was now time to repair to our second feast at Thakombau's, which consisted of a pig, not baked in the native oven, but cut up and
 * every inch a King.' The ilissionaries said he was a little agitated with the prospect of