All necessary arrangements being completed for our voyage to Ba, we once more took leave of our kind friends at Vewa, and set sail for Motureke. Elijah accompanies us, with several of his people, who are to serve as trading men on shore, that the lives of our people may not be endangered on the barbarous coast to which we are bound. A young chief of Ba, who has been visiting at Vewa of late, also accompanies us with several attendants.

Namosimalua has "tambued" the coast for the bark C. to fish at; but Thakombau has sent a large quantity of yanggona by Elijah, and orders for the "tambu" to be removed, and for the natives to fish for the Zotoff. Mr. W. has been told that Bau has no influence on the lands to which we go,—that Namosi is acknowledged as page 257their head chief as far as Raverave, and beyond that the chiefs are all independent.

We anchored at Raverave. This place is famous as being the residence of the great god, Dengai. The mountains a little back from the shore are called the Kauvandra. It is said that the god inhabits a cave in the side of the mountain.

The following legend of this place has been kindly furnished me by Rev. Mr. Hunt, as it was told him by a native.

An Account of Ravugalo, or the "Soul-Destroyer"

"We do not know the origin of this god, whether he is the son of Dengai or not; we know, however, that the god of the Kauvandra appointed him to kill souls. He resides at a place called Nembanggatai, where the spirits of men go when they enter the separate state at Kauvandra. The town is inhabited, and a parrot is stationed there, who calls out when a spirit enters it. If one soul comes, it calls once; if two, twice, and so on. The god and his children hear the calls of the parrot, and hasten to prepare their clubs to kill the spirits as they pass their dwelling. They do not succeed, however, in killing all who are passing this dangerous spot; many are strong, and pass safely on to the Kauvandra, while others are killed and eaten by the god and his sons, and are never seen again in this world or any other. Some of my people have heard the noise of the page 258god, as be knocks out the brains of his ghostly victims.

Ravagalo is now dead, and the business is carried on by his sons. A short time since, as he was holding his club, ready to attack a poor soul that was passing, and carelessly sitting on a stump of brushwood, which had been left with a sharp point out of the ground, it penetrated his body and caused his death.

He said to his children, 'I am dead. Take me to the 'buri.' My sons, look well to the souls to be eaten.' A man who is employed as a messenger between the Kauvandra and this world, brought the news of his-death here.

The spirits who are so fortunate as to pass safely through the town of the 'Soul-Destroyer,' go to the Kauvandra on the top of the mountain. Many ladies reside there, who often ascend to the highest points of the land to witness the wars of Feejee. On the arrival of the spirits at the Kauvandra, they proceed to a steep precipice, called Naindelinde. On the margin of this precipice two persons sit, father and son, who have been appointed to interrogate the new comers. 'From whence have you come?' they ask. 'From the earth,' ia the reply. 'What have you been doing there?' The spirit then recounts his deeds which he performed while in the body on the earth. After he concludes his history, he is invited to take a seat on the broad end of a large steer oar, (which is placed directly over the precipice,) to take the air. From this the soul is suddenly plunged into 'bulu.' Some say that only the bad spirits are sent to 'bulu,' and that the good ones remain at the Kauvandra with Dengai. Others assert that the spirits who have visited 'bulu,' visit this world and the Kauvandra at their pleasure."

I have heard some accounts of punishments that are awarded to the souls of the wicked, but they are scarcely fit to record. One can never get a true idea of heathenism from books, as many of its most revolting characteristics cannot be penned.

Anchored at Ba and were visited by Touaga, the brother of the murdered chief. He appears friendly, and has promised to employ his people to collect "beech de mer" for the vessel. Some red paint was presented to him with a black silk head dress, and a native comb ornamented with beads. He painted his face red, fixed his head dress on his head, placed his comb in his hair, then seated himself upon the table opposite the looking-glass, and seemed to think that he looked "plenty well enough."

He had never seen a white woman before, and I obtained a share of his attention. After gazing at me intently for some time, he exclaimed, "Sa tha ni lewa ni vete, Venaka ni lewa ni papalagi" "The Feejeean women are bad; white women are good"

There are two chiefs of equal rank at Ba. Vakambua is the name of the other. He seldom visits any vessels that come here. I believe they are not related, and are often at enmity with each other. It is said that when Touaga's brother was killed, he was laying a plan for the murder of Vakambua.

We are still at Ba, and have several houses under way for "beech de mer" Touaga often visits us, and, as yet, says nothing about eating us. We think the "buri" must be at the Kauvandra, as we hear nothing about it at this place.

As I have presented Touaga with several articles which he appeared to value highly, he seemed to wish to make me some return, and one day inquired if there page 260was any thing on shore that he should bring me. I told him if he had any "karwais," I should like some. He said there was an abundance on the land, and some should be brought. A small quantity was brought the next day. He made a great parade in presenting them. I pronounced them very good, and supposed the affair settled; when, to our surprise, before he left the vessel he asked Mr. W. what he would give him for the vegetables that he had brought for me. He was asked what he wanted. "Beads," he replied; which were given him. This, however, is the only case of the kind I have witnessed no such meanness from any other chief of Feejee.

The females of this coast are not employed in collecting the "beech de mer," consequently, they do not visit the vessels. I have seen but few.

Elijah preaches the gospel wherever he goes, and does not suffer any opportunity to escape without recommending it to his countrymen.

We find that the name of Bau carries an influence with it wherever we go. The manners of the chiefs and people on this coast compare with those of Bau and vicinity, as the manners of our most remote little country villages would with those of the most fashionable cities. The chiefs appear to be treated with but little ceremony, and have but little authority.

Our steward and one of the sailors have been sick for several days; the steward with the dysentery, and the sailor with inflammation of the lungs.

Last evening Touaga came alongside in a canoe well filled with natives. They wished to come on board and sleep, but were refused. Perhaps it might have been safe for them to have come on board; but Mr. W. knew that our safety was more certain for them to be ashore.

Elijah has gone to Raverave.

The steward complained to-day of being in great pain. I inquired if he had eaten any thing except what I had sent to him from the cabin. He replied that he had not; but I learned afterwards that he had eaten two small fish, remarking, as he did so, that he could not live on rice, bread and gruel.

George, the sailor, appears to be worse. A blister was applied to the chest, as he complained of difficulty in breathing. He wore it an hour, and then threw it overboard, saying that it did him no good.

We are now sailing towards Natnula. It is nearly calm, and our progress is very slow. As we pass page 262along the coast of this part of Vetelavu, the broken hills gradually slope to the water's edge, where the mangroves seem to form a barrier. Their defiles are filled with trees and shrubs of dark foliage, which, contrasting with the lighter verdure of the hills, make the whole appear increasingly beautiful. In the back ground are seen the lofty mountains of the interior, with their rugged and irregular peaks towering above the whole, and imparting a majestic as well as beautiful appearance to the scenery.

Mr. W. was called at four o'clock this morning to George, whom they thought to be dying. He was placed in a warm bath, and other remedies being applied, he was relieved. He suffers much; not being able to lie down at all. His sickness has been occasioned by sleeping on deck. Mr. W. had often spoken to him and the steward about it, but they chose to have their own way, and are now suffering the consequences of rejecting good advice.

The Perseverance arrived from Vatea with fish, discharged, and sailed again the same day. The captain brought no news.

The steward and George are no better. Having tried many remedies for the cure of the steward, and all seeming to fail, salt and vinegar were recommended, but not liking the taste of it, he threw it away, and expressed a desire to drink lime water, which one of the crew had recommended; he said this was too strong, and after page 263drinking it once, gave it up. Mr. W. or myself now give him his medicines instead of sending them to him.

We returned to Ba. An awning has been spread on the deck, and the sick sailor remained there during the day. I asked him to-day if he felt prepared to die, knowing that he had given up all hope of life. He said he supposed he was. I asked him if he read his Bible. He replied that he did. I told him if he did, he knew what constituted a Christian character, and asked him if he believed that he was a Bible Christian, and if he was conscious of loving and serving God. His reply was in the affirmative, and he added, "I never sinned much. God is merciful. He will not send me to hell for the few sins that I have committed" "I know nothing of your life," I replied, "except that since you have been on board this vessel you have been exceedingly profane; and even since your sickness, you have uttered oaths enough to sink your soul in everlasting misery" "Oh, I can repent of that easy enough," was his reply. I conversed with him some time longer, but his mind appeared so completely blinded, that he could not be convinced he was a sinner, or needed the pardoning grace of God. Some of the sailors were present, and he page 264would look at them with a scornful smile, seeming to say, "You will not frighten this fellow"

One of the boys on board, named George, is sick with the dysentery. He has been subject to slight attacks of this prevalent disease, but they have generally yielded to medical treatment and careful nursing. Being somewhat frightened when he is unwell, he is unlike the old sailors, and is willing to take proper medicines and food, and thus subdue the disease before it becomes dangerous.

Our sick sailor had another distressing fit last night, Touaga, the chief, inquired if he might not take him on shore and bury him. Mr. W. told him that he was still alive, and "papalagis" did not bury their people alive. "Oh, but he is dead," he replied; "he has no spirit in him, and why should you keep him here? he is a great deal of trouble, and Marama is all the time preparing food and medicines for the sick that are on board; she wilt not have so much to do if this man is laid in the ground." Mr. W. told the humane chief that the man could not be buried till life had departed, and that a man lived as long as he breathed.

Elijah said that when be was a heathen, be had many people buried alive. At one time a young woman belonging to his establishment was sick, or rather weak for a long time. He thought she would never recover, and had a grave dug. She was then called out of the house to see some strange monster that had appeared on the waters. When she came out of the house, she was seized and thrown into the grave. She shrieked and cried out, "Do not bury me,—I am well now" Her cries were of no avail. Two men stood upon her body and held her down, while others threw on the earth, and thus she was buried.

The boy George has recovered, and the steward is better. Bernardo is very low. I have conversed with him several times upon the importance of repentance, but he still continues to curse God for his afflictions.

We have removed from the dominions of Vakambua to those of Touaga.

A small boat belonging to Solavu has been here, and we learn that Rewa appears to be gaining strength, and Garenggeo exhibits a good deal of warlike ability and courage, while Phillips, being almost constantly supplied with rum, is growing daily more imbecile.

There appears to be some misunderstanding between Touaga and Vakambua. The latter sent to a town belonging to the former for some pigs, which were refused. Vakambua then sent a whale's tooth to a mountain tribe for them to burn the town of the offenders, and kill as many of its inhabitants as possible. Touaga, being made acquainted with the affair, hastened to the aid of his people. A battle was fought, and Touaga lost nine of his warriors, that were taken to Vakambua, who kept as many as he wished for his own use, and sent the rest as presents to his allies.

Touaga and the mountaineers are still fighting. We have seen the smoke and flames arise from four different places, and we suppose that towns are burned there.

Our steward is much worse again.

Touaga has been off, and says that the war is ended; that he has "soroed" to Vakambua because he did not wish the fishing to be interrupted; but by and by Vakambua should "soro" to him.

When we left Natemba, Mr. W. took away the "beech de mer" pot, as Vakambua's people did not get fish enough to pay the way. They sent word to the chief that the pot was wanted at another place, but sometime hence the schooner should be sent there, when they could re-commence fishing. To-day a Vewa man has arrived from Vendoga, where the pot was sent, and says that Vakambua has sent word that all the Vewa men must go on board the bark, as he shall send an armed force to take the "beech de mer" pot, and carry it back to Natemba. Elijah has returned to Vewa, but his brother, Korondvarasa is here, and says that he will go and make all straight with Vakambua, who, in reality, does not care to fish for any one, although he likes to have a trade house in his vicinity, so that if he or his people should be in want of any article, they can fish enough to get it; having received large presents, too, from Elijah, he is ashamed not to appear to do something.

Korondvarasa has returned from Natemba, having made arrangements for the schooner to go there, as the people are done fishing where the schooner has been laying the last few weeks.

Ezekiel has arrived, being much burned and badly wounded. His father also arrived in the morning, bringing us letters from Vewa.

The steward complained in the morning of the heat, and wished to have an awning spread on the quarterdeck, which being done, be was removed, and said he felt much cooler. He disposed of his effects, said he had but a few hours to live, thanked us many times for our care of him during his sickness, and expressed a hope that his sins were pardoned. About seven o'clock, as Mr. W. and myself were standing by him, he died.

Bernardo died about eleven o'clock, P. M. He continued irritable and impatient till the last. A few hours before his death some warm tea was offered him, and, finding that he could not swallow it, he spit it from his mouth, and threw the cup from him in the most spite-page 269ful manner. He was continually angry with God that he did not end his sufferings, and take him to heaven. What an awful state in which to leave the world! as though a man might curse and swear, practise every impurity, and then go to heaven at death. What would heaven be with such spirits, who die blaspheming their Maker!

After his body was placed in the coffin, the fiftieth Psalm was read, and the burial service as before, and the body was taken ashore and buried by the side of the steward.

Ezekiel's wounds are doing well, but he is not able to sit up yet.

Vendogo. The Charles Wirgman has passed us on its way to Undu. The anchor of the Zotoff was soon tripped, and we followed and anchored near. Capt. Waldon passed the afternoon and evening with us.

The Bark Pilot arrived to fish on this coast.

Elijah has arrived, bringing us letters from Vewa, from which we learn of the death of J. H. Chamberlain.

Elijah held a prayer meeting on shore, and Korondvarasa sent a request that the Christians would pray to God that the people would leave fishing for "beech de mer," as the Vewa people were tired and wished to go home.

Ezekiel has recovered from his wounds.

One of the crew belonging to the bark has gone to Vewa for medical aid, being attacked with dysentery.

Divine service was performed on board in the native language, by a local preacher from Vewa. Ten of the Vewa Christians were present, and the man-page 271ner in which they passed the Sabbath should serve as an example to the white men on board this vessel.