The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1869-02-10

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always burn these houses when they aban-
don station, in order that no one coming
after them should enjoy the use Of the
building. 1t may, perhaps, strike one as
rather auchristian, but such is the custom.
When Tui-Tayea saw the flames leaping
up and devouring the house, and thus an
end put to his hopes of gain-visiOns of
prospective muskets aud powder, whales
teeth and red paint, thus rudely brushed
away-his countenance fell, and he sat
moody and silent As soon, however. as
the boat was hoisted up, 1--WE were already
underweigh) the captain presented him
with new axe, hatchet, musket. keg
of powder and a large whales tooth. With
these he departed, smiling and showing his
white teeth, as, in response to the captains
asa lago, You are going. replied,
40, sa go.'-"yes, you are remaining"
Those white teeth, thought |, those
beautiful white teeth, but for the holding
of our good anchors, would, ere this, have
been masticating my feshl
Leaving Tavea behind us, we bore away
with fine breeze, and towards night, an
chored in what the pilot called Monkey
face passage" between a small island and
the main land of Vanua Levu. 1t (the
passage, or strait derives its name from
the fancied resemblance to the face Of a
monkey. of high rock on the island. l
may state here, in this connection, that
vessels always anchor at night when cruis-
ing among the islands, on account of the
vast number of detached reefs, shoals and
sand-banks, to be encountered on every
hand.
Near the place where we anchored, on
the main land, was bold rock, that stood
isolated close by the shore, and which was,
l should judge, two hundred feet high.
This was known as "Savage's Rock The
tale connected with it, as related TO me by
our grey-bearded pilot, who had lived on
the islands for many years, ald who had
received the account from the natives and
from older residents than himself-was
that Charley Savage, Swede, who, attach
ed to an American whaleship, had run away
from her at an island called Ngoro, lying
off the coast of Vanua Levu, and from
thence had got on to the mainland, where,
being taken under the protection of the
reigning chief of that side of the island,
Tui-Muthuata-the missionaries have put
the letter for the sound of th-and being
a handy man at tools, he became armorer
for the king, repairing and putting in order
all the old and dilapidated muskets. The
consequence was, that Tui-Muthuata be-
came very powerful, and extended his
authority the whole length and breadth of
the east coast of Vanua Levu. This arous-
ed the jealousy of the king of Mbau, to
whom the king of Muthuata was tributary,
and he determined to despoil the latter of
his wealth. A whales tooth was sent to
the king of Rewa, with the usual formali-
ties and message, inviting him to join in
the war, and it was duly accepted. So the
king of Rewa Joined the king of Mbau
with two double canoes, each containing
three hundred warriors, "men at arms
though without armor, but with clubs and
spears galore-and joining their allies who
embarked in four canoes and numbered a
thousand men, they sailed from Mbau for
the doomed Muthuata. The terrible scenes
of carnage and cannibalism that followed
their arrival and landing there, can never
be depicted. Tui-Muthuata. who by ira
dition appears to have been most respec-
table and kind-hearted old savage, after
making very gallant resistance, was brain
ed in his own house, and cooked in the
oven which his own people had prepared
for the baking of hog. Those of his
people who did not escape like fate, fed
to the hills and forests. Charley Savage
had two pistols and musket, with plen-
tiful supply of ammunition in belt strap
ped about him. With these arms he kept
his assailants at bay, and managed to reach
the top of the rock which have mention
ed-to ascend which there was but one
path, and by which but one man could as
cend at a time, it was so narrow. There
Savage remained, and at length fairly died
of starvation, the natives not daring to ap-
proach his eYrie. and he not daring to de-
sceud amongst them to procure the neces-
saries of life. Hence the name, "Savage's
Rock"
Early in the morning We were again under
weigh for Muthuats, with a fine breeze of
the land, laden with the odors of thous-
and flowers. and the fragrance of the for
est which clothed Vasua Levu in all the
varied shades of green, from the mountain
tops to the mangrove-girdled beach. Jack
Vakatau, as the natives called our pilot
never knew his real name-Was stationed
in the fore top-gallant cross-trees to look
out for hidden dangers Of reef or shoal.