The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-07-12

access, ana well protected VI ecd ~
an extensive coral reef but il is exposed TO high winds
and hurricanes that prevail al certain seasons
The United States ship Falmouth came to anchor in
The haIbor on Thursday the Sn IN ., nsr po
was longitude east IFS deg o2 min. ~ sec, latitude
south 81 deg. 40 min 40 sec on Inc hrs OF March the
Temporarily on the island OF Rewa about twenty five
miles distant on board and received the customary
salute
As no American vessel of war had visited this group
OF islands since the exploring squadron here in
ls4o 1t may readily be supposed the consul had long
record OF aggresslons, wrongs and outrages on Amer
can commerce and interests by Feleeans all OF which,
he contends are justly chageable TO powerful chief who
resides al the island and town of Mbau, pronounced
Bou( named Thakombau, or Tu Viii, (Which latter name
sgnlyng king OF Felee, he has recently assumed) on
the ground OF having been committed by him his sub
Jec's whom he had the power 10 restrain, puhsh, or
cause 10 make restitution
The consul was therefore deslrous the captain would
take the ship to Mbau and demand satisfactory Tepara
ton; but the winds being light and variable with e-
quent Gains, and the reef shoals and rocks in the chan
mel to Mbau highly dangerous, the captain declined 60
ing On the sth March, the ship got under way, with
the consul on board for Rewa Roads, about iory-ive
miles distant and nextday came 10 anchor in that beautiful
haTbor on the south side of the end of The island of
Vulevu, pronounced VitilibD meaning Large Fejee
This island It's name indicates, is The largest OF the
group, being upwards OF three hundred miles IN clrcum-
ference. From The shore the eye ranges over one con-
nued forest of the richest vedure until at about forty
miles oil It rests on the azure peaks OF an extensive
range OF mountains, from four TO ve thousand eet hsh
covered, | understand. with verdure TO their summit
Copper and pumbago have been found IN them IN
considerable quantities Other minerals may be discover
ed hereafter.
The valleys are beautiful and fertile, and in some
places well cultivated Vans ard dry lao are the prnc
pal crops Breadru cocoa nut, ephi, or chestnut tree,
and many others atiordng food for man are abundant
Pantans bananas papaws, cusiaro APPLE pine apples
oranges OF inferior quality, and most OF the tropical
fruits and vegetables are abundant Sugar grows
spontaneously, and Of excellent quality. saw fields OF
it under cultivation, ten twelve feet high The natives
do not make sugar. but manufacture large quantities OF
coarse molasses they also raise pigs in great numbers
and turkeys muscovy ducks, and chickens.
The harbor OF Rewa, in lat ). lse so. and long f.
l7Sa 81 is formed by two islands and their adjoining
reefs the larger one, named Nukaau, he last syllable
pronounced to) is less than half mile IN It's greatest
diameterthe other is Mukalevu Both covered with
cocoa nut and forest trees From Nukaau 10 The main
shore is three miles. The land from the shore for
siderable distance is low and marshy covered with dense
forests of mangroye and other trees Many small creeks,
low lands, that might, under state OF civilization, be
useful TO commercial or agricultural pursuits.
large picturesque, serpentne river called Walevu,
named by the exploring squadron "Peales river" takes
It's rise the mountains about fifty miles inland and falls
into the opposite Nukalau The river is OF such
magnitude as to contain islands mile in diameter. On
of these the town of Bowa stands, containing two
hundred houses. The natives say that this river takes
its rise from lake fountain the ridge OF the noun
tain and falls Oft in equal size on both sides that large
shaddock tree grows at the fountain or middle OF the
river, whose fruit, falling IN the stream, IS foated TO the
ocean opposite sides Of the island Some time past.
the consul purchased from the chiefs the island of Nuka
lau, and point opposite 10 il called Lauthala Ndra
keti Point on Captain Wilkess charity Upon the island
he built large house, in which he put his stores for ira
ding and for household purposes During temporary
absence last year, on the island of Rewa, he left
named John Foster, native of Dumries, Scotland, in
charge OF his flag store, and premises
! Foster, like most men in the islands, had native
wife, they, having children, adopted little boy, son
| of man named Paul Burrows OF New York, now dead
and Fejee woman. Fejee man and woman lived
the island. On The 18th Of August, 1885, party of
lives in three armed with clubs hatches, &C.,
came from fishing town, Utla subject to mountain
chief named Ngaranngou, (slgnifying the cave the
sharks ino and, pushing into the house, struck Eos
ter on the rgh, temple with Ratchet, dubbed the Fe
jee and the women, and carried them off in the
canoes nearly dead the hafcase boy was left the
beach, with his head severed from his body The canoes
were then loaded with all the goods ana effects IN the
store after which they the flag into strips, and set
fire to the house, leaving Foster to be burned in it, He
had, however strength 10 crawl out OF IT, and survived
his wounds few days; the house was burned 10 the
ground Such is brief account OF the outrage and muir
| der on Nukalau.
On the Falmouth coming to anchor in the roads, the
| Rev. James Calvert chief missionary OF the English
resided here twelve he speaks the native Ian
guage fuenily, and is intimately acquainted with the
manners and customs of the people Early in the morn
ing OF the 10th Mr. Calvert by request, went to Mbau
TO invite the chief, TUT V to visit the ship, and at the
same early hour the CONSUL Lieutenant Moore and Lieu
tenant Devlln went 10 the mountains TO seek the noun
tain chief Ngaranngou, Called by foreigners "Longfe
low, account OF his heighi and bring him on board
If possible The party took supplies for two days, expect
Ing IN the CDfe Dut
they had The good fortune to accosi native while
cending small river called 'Sumumbula," who In
formed them that Ngaraningiou then at village
some distance in the country, TO which he agreed TO
guide them. The native taken into the boat, and
the river assembled about two miles, opposite to the village
the native referred 10. After caution TO the officer OF the
boat Mdsbipman Armstrong and crew TO be vigant and
rest their the consul and the ocersthe latter
armed 10 the eeh-followed the guide through devious
paths, hills and valleys, swamps and dehles
the ground very slippery from the night dew which was
not yet dsspated by the OF the morning UNTIL
on beautiful hill-sde, about mile from the river,
village OF about forty houses and two large Mbures or
Sprt-houses, full in view The name OF the vii
lage is Bunabeiakau, (meaning short bamboo) The
guide directed the party OF the largest houses INTO
which they crawed. The consul, who speaks feIee,
sauied and shook hands with noble looking chief, who
sat on the mat-covered floor, surrounded by twenty
seven sable coored, robust savage natives The chief
who was other than Ngaranngou, introduced TO
the officers by the CONSUL and after friendly greeting
all took seats like tailoTs, the mat floor The cook
ing place. in which brisk little fire of dry bamboos
sent forth haze OF smoke that most dsagreeable
though the natives did not appear to feel IT.
After long talk with the consul the chief got to his feet
and commenced getting himself and suite dressed TO appear
Der, consequential parsonage Every hair twltched
or twisted with great precision Over his mop OF hair
smokecolored iapa as thin as tissue paper, was tightly
fitted, having finish at the top resembling the surplus
gathered ends of tied bag this article called saa,"
and is peculiar to chiefs. He then took string OF FISH
bones, resembling string OF small white beads, and
wound round each brawny leg, below the knee. as to
have the appearance OF bead carriers about four inches
wide; his marc, grdle changed uncerenonIously
or hve times around him, leaving end OF trailing to
lac or ed mn left arm