The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-07-22

On the LIST Of March the United ST. tes Consul, J.
b. Williams, Esq, who resides temporarily on the
island Of Rewa, about twenty-five miles distant,
came on board and received the customary salute.
AS no American vessel Of war visited this group
Of islands since the exploring squadron was here in
1910, il may readily be sup ,osed the consal had
long record OF sggressions, wrongs, and outrages
on American commerce and interests by Feejeans;
all of which, he contends, is justly chargeabie to
powerful chief who resides at the island and town
ofAbau pronounced Bou), named Thakombau, or
Tui Viii (Which latter name, signlfying Ming OF
Feejee, he has recently assumed), on the ground OF
having been committed by him or his subjects,
whom he had the power to restrain, punish, or
cause to make restitution.
The consul was therefore desirous the captain
would take the ship to Mbau and demand satisfac-
tory reparation; but the winds being light aud
variable with frequent Gains, and the reefs sho ais
and rocks in the channel to Mbau highly danger
Gus, the captain declined going. On the Sth March
the ship got under way, with the consul on board,
for Rswa Roads, abeut forty.fve mics distant and
next day came to anchor in that beautiful harbor,
on the south side of the east end of the island Of
Vitleyu, (proununced Vitilib,) meaning large Fee
ice. This island, as its name indicates, is the
largest the group, being upwards of thee hundred
miles In circumference. From the shore the eye
ranges over one continued forest Of the richest
dure, until ut about forty miles of it rests the
azure peaks Of an extensive range Of mountains,
from four to five thousand feet high, covered, l
understand, with verdure to their summit copper
ore and plumbago have been found in them, in
considerable quantities. Other minerals may be
discovered hereafter
The valleys are beautiful and fertile, and in some
places well cultivated; yams and dry taro are the
principal crops. Bread fruit, cocoa nut, ephi, or
chestnut tree, and many other, afording feod for
man, are abundant plan:ains, bananas, pawpaw VS.,
custaro apple, pine apples, oranges OF iaterior
quality, and most of the tropical fruits and vege-
tables, are abundant. sugar cane grows sponta-
neously, and OF excellent quality. saw fields OF it
under cultivation, ten or 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 Re wa in lat s. Is deg. so min,
and long. f. l7s deg. 81 min, il formed by two
islands and their adjoining reefs. The larger one,
named Nukalau, (the last syllable pronounced t0u),
is less than half a mile in it's greatest diameter;
the other is Mukalevu Both are covered with
cocoa nut and forest trees. From Nukalau TO the
main shore is three miles. The land from the shere,
for considerable distance, is low and marshy, CO.
vered with dense forests Of nangroye and other
trees. Many small creeks, large enough for small
boats or canoes, intersect these low lands, that
might, under state of civilization be useful to
commercial or agricultural pursuits.
large picturesque serpentine river, called
Wailevu," named by the Exploring squadron
'Peales river" takes its rise in the mountains
about fifty miles inland, and falls into the ocean
opposite Nukalau. This river is of such magni-
tude as to contain islands mile in diameter. On
one Of these the town of Rewa stands, containing
two hundred houses. The natives say that this
river takes its rise from lake or fountain on the
ridge of the mountain and falls OF in equal size on
both sides; that large shaddock tree grows at the
fountain middle of the river, whose fruit falling
in the stream is foated to the ocean on opposite
sides Of the island. Some time past, the consul
purchased from the chiefs the Island OF Nukalau,
and a point opposite to it called Lauthala.
{" Ndraketi Point" on Capt. Wilkes chart.)
Upon the island he built large house in which he
put his stores for trading and for household pur-
poses, during temporary absence, last year, on
the island Of Rewa; he left man named John
Foster, native of Dumfries, Scotland, in charge
OF his flag, store and premises Foster, like most
white men in the islands, had native wife; they
having no children adopted little boy, son Of a
man named Paul Burrows, Of New York, now dead
and Feejee woman. A Feejee man and woman
lived with them, which constituted the entire in
habtants of the island On the 4th August, 1850,
party of natives in three canoes armed with clubs,
hatchets, etc., came from a fishing town, named
Utia, subject TO a mountain chief named Ngara-
niDgou, (signifying the cave the sharks go into,)
and pushing into the house, struck Foster on the
.ish. Temple with a Ratchet, eia5 5ed the Feejee-
man and the two women, and carried them Of in
the canoes, nearly dead; the halfcaste boy was
left on the be ich, with his head severed from his
body. The canoes were then loaded with all the
goods and effects in the store after which they tore
the flag in strips and set FIRE to the house, leaving
Foster 10 be burned in il. He had, however,
strength to crawl out Of it, and survived hi;
wounds few days the house was burned to the
ground. Such IL brief account Of the outrage
ana murder on Nukalu.
ON the Falmouth coming to anchor in the roads,
the Rev. James Calvert, chief missionary Of the
English Wesleyan Society in Feejee, came en-
board Having resided here over twelve years, he
speaks the native language Auently, and is int-
mately acquainted with the manners and customs
Of the people. Early in the morning OF the 10th
Mr.. Calvert, by request, went to Mbau to invite
the chief TUT Viii, - visit the ship; and at the
same early hour the Consul, Lieut. Moore, aud
Lieut.. Devlin went to the mountains to seek the
mountain chief, Ngaraningiou called by foreigners
" Longfe low, on account OF his height,) and bring
him on board If possible. The party took supplies
finding the chief in the mountains. But they had
the good fortune 10 sccOst a native, while ascend
ing a small river called Sumumbulla, who informed
them that Ngaraningou was then at village some
distance in the country 10 which he agreed to guide
them. The native was taken into the boat, and
the river assembled about two miles, opposite to the
village the native referred to. After a caution TO
the officer Of the boat, Midshipman Armstrong, and
crew, 10 be vigilant and rest on their arms the
Consu and the two officers, the latter armed 10 the
teeth, followed the guide through devious paths,
bills and valleys swampsa defles, the ground
very slippery from the night dew, which was not
yet dissipated by the rays Of the morning sun,
until on beautiful hill side, about mile from
the river, village Of about forty houses and two
large embures or spirit houses, came full in view
The name Of the village il Bunabetaku (meaning
short bauboo). The guide directed the party 70
Of the largest houses. into which they crawled.
The Consul, who speal Feejee, saluted and hook
hands with noble looking chief who sat on the
mat covered floor, surrounded by twenty seven
sable-coored, robust, savage natives. The chief
sho was no Other than Ngaraningou, was intro
duced to the officers by the Consul, and after
friendly greeting all took seats, like taors, on the
mat floor The cooking place in which a
brisk little fire Of dry bambOos, sent forth haze Of
smoke that was most disagreeaole, though the ma
tives did not appear to feel H. After a long talk
with the Consul the chief got 20 bis feet and com
menced getting himself and suite dressed o. appear
on board. liz aair and beard we're submitted 70
the barber, consequential parsonage. Every hair
was twitebcd twisted with great preciiiOn. over
his mop # hair a smoke coiored tapa az thin
tissue paper was tightly fitted, having finish at
the top resembling the surplus gathered ends Of
tied bag this article Is called saa. and i pecu-
liar 70 chiefs lie then took string o. isa bones
resembling a string Of small white bead, and
wound IL round each brawny leg, below the knee,
50 a. 20 have the appearance u bead garters about
four inches wide his marc, or girdle, was changed
urcerCmoniously. and over II he wound many yards
q fine white tapa, four or i've times around him,
leaving one end Of IL trailing 20 the ground OF sup
III