THE LIBRARY

THE UNIVERSITY

OF CALIFORNIA

LOS ANGELES

B? GEORGE

MxlCKANES

>^A U S T R A L I AJj_A

|3o

THE KINGS OF THE REEFS.

A POEM,

IX 'lyj-: lIUXDIiED AM> SKVJwVIEEX CAMVS.

BY JESSE CAPvEY.

THE Si'KCTATOK I'UDLISHlNCi CUAIl'ANV LIMITED,
270 I'OST OFFICE PLACE.

i8gi.

PREFACE.

UTY took me to the Fiji Islands early in the year 1859, and removed me

finally from them sixteen years afterwards, towards the close of 1875.

*'^^^^^^^^^^^ At this latter date they had been recently

annexed to the British Empire, and the first Governor of the

newly erected Crown colony, Sir Arthur Gordon, was in his place

at Government House, Levuka.

All the high chieftains had abdicated in favour of Her
Most Gracious Majesty, Queen Victoria, whose rule had been
inaugurated by the death, in six months, of 40,000 natives —
victims of the " measles " plague. That scourge swept away armies of stalwart
men in the prime of life, together with whole parliaments of wise old Nestors, the
chief depositories of the nation's unwritten history and learning. Going to the
grave as they did, suddenly and in silence, they carried with them nmch of the
interesting lore of their country, and must have taken well nigh all of it but for
efforts made some years previously resulting in successful rescue.

Among those efibrts were some of my own, which brought me many treasures,
till then stored away in Fijian brains. These I sought with no view to pul)lication,
but in order the better to fit myself for the mission upon which I had been sent to
the islanders. My desire was to learn something of the native mind ; its modes of
thought, its imagination, its powers of invention, and the materials it chose for its
use. I set my mind to look at the history and religion of the kingdoms and tribes,
as presented in the unwritten compositions of native experts, ancient and modern,
whose works had been popularised by professional talkers or minstrels. Every
day's enquiries obtained me fresh introductions to gods and men, heroes and spirits,
giants and pigmies, and, in short, made me familiar with all sorts of Jiistoric and
mythic personages, places, objects, and events.

1692739

The Kings of the Reefs.

Tlie furiher my inYCsti{::rations wonl, the more they assurocl me there was
something yet to be found in the uncollected sagas of the islands. To secure as
much as possible of this, I ofl'ered prizes for the best contributions of it by native
writers. By " native writers " I mean men who were well enough educated to put
in writing the knowledge they themselves had, and also tliat with which their
friends and the people of their tribes could supply them. In the course of two
years from the time I offered the prizes there came into my possession one hundred
valuable papers, written from beginning to end by natives, who, to make them as
exhaustive as possible, lirst drained tliemselvos of all they knew, and then drew
upon their elders to the same extent.

This was success surpassing all my dreams. That it was so may be accounted
for by the fact that the time chosen for the work was the best, if not the only one,
for attempting it without risk of failure. It could not have been done earlier, when
the language was being reduced to writing by able pioneer missionaries, for the
simple reason that few natives could put in writing their own or tlie compositions
of others. At the time my collection was being made the number of competent
writers was large and daily increasing, as were also facilities for communication
with intelligent men of all ages and ranks — chiefs, priests, statesmen, warriors of
renown, poets, court story-tellers, and others whose name was legion, and in wliose
power it was to raise the veil hanging before the secrets of the past.

Had my researches been postponed until after the date of annexation, 1874-5,
it would have been too late in the day to have done anything worth doing ; for, the
ancients gone, the youth of the land, saturated with the teachings of the new
religion, could not have given, unadulterated, any of the old time curiosities of the
Fiji mind. As it was, I obtained what could not have been procured before, but at
gi'eat personal sacrifice both of time and means ; nor at all since, either for love
or money.

From abundant materials I made selections and put them into plain English.
Some of these were afterwards used in letters, articles for the press, speeches, and
lectures. Others, working in my mind, presently gave forth gleams of a possible
historic romance in verse, the best metre for which I found to be that of
Longfellow's song of Hiawatha, which some of my Fijian discoveries resembled.
From its inception to its finish, I thought of the poem as the song of The Kint/s of
the Jleefs, a title suggested to me through rememl>ering that it was the oflicial
designation of one of Fiji's powerful line of kings, ruling the north-east portion of

The Kings of tJie Reefs.

the group, Thakaundrove or Somosomo. These kings were known as " Ko ira na
Tuithakau." They were, however, kings of only some of the reefs ; or, more
correctly, of some of the reef-surromided islands. The kings who won the greatest
renown, at least in this century, were the kings of Mbau. These I have chosen for
the purpose of setting forth certain important events in which they were involved
as prime actors. There were five, viz.: Nailatikau, Mbanuvi, Naulivou, Tanoa, and
Seru or Thakombau. The last being the most remarkable man of the five, he is
naturally the principal character in the story.

Interwoven with the historical portions of the Avork, which cover a period of
one hundred and thirty years, more or less, is a good deal of fiction from the
legends of the islands ; and, interspersed with fact and fiction, are manners and
customs of the people, with words of wisdom from their sages. The real hero, as
he grows, has his mind influenced and moulded by the history, religion, politics,
learning, institutions, and fashions of his times. Come to manhood, he is followed
through strange and changing- fortunes, until again and again he astonishes the
Fiji world from centre to circumference.

All the Fijian historical characters in the poem appear under titles or names
by which they are everywhere known. The mythical personages, places, and
objects bear the names given them in Fijian mythology. The foreign characters,
mostly British, will be known by designations suggested by the history they
helped to make.

Of the sulijects picturesquely before my mnid during the composition of the
work the following most strongly impressed me : — (1) The Fijian chieftain as he was
when white men made their appearance in the islands, and as, for sometime there-
after, he remained unchanged to any appreciable extent, yet not altogether
uninfluenced in the direction of change, by their advent. (2) Chiefs and people
demoralised later on by a foreign demoralisation added to their own, through the
presence in their midst of low-class lawless white men. (3) Fijian rulers,
subsequently, in circumstances of growing intimacy with European and American
residents and visitors of a dilfcrent type — missionaries, naval ollicers, scientists,
commercial men, and others, whose influence was beneficial. (4) The greatest Fijian
chief of his times, seeking his OAvn and his country's good in the absolute
abandonment of the wholly inadequate religion of his forefathers, and in the
substitution for it of Christianity. (5) Running through all this, and much besides,
the one dominating thought of the chiefly mind, especially of the chiefs of Mbau,

The Kings of the Reefs.

that Fiji's destiny woulil be the nnitication or federation of all the islands under
one rule, and that, of course, the rule of Mbau. The dream was never realised in
that sense ; in another it was. The poem touches all these questions, and
emphatically the last two. It may, therefore, be regarded as a memorial work, //r.s<,
of the Christianisation of Fiji by British Christian people ; and, second, of the
federation of all the islands, and their annexation to the British Empire through
the friendly negotiations of Fiji chieftains, with Seru at tiieir head, and British
statesmen.

That the work is now- finished is due to many circumstances, all working
towards and pointing to its completion sooner or later. Of these, I desire to mention
encouragements by friends, whose judgment it had been rude in me to have
disregarded. One such was Mr. Henry Brittou, a gentleman long and still
connected with the Melbourne Press, who, many years ago, having in the course of
his journalistic duties to visit Fiji, most industriously sought to acquaint himself
with the islands and their inhabitants, and afterwards ^Yrote many able articles
about them. An extract or two from his letters to myself will show how he did his
best to prevent the work I had in hand coming to nought.

" I think " (wrote Mr. Britton) " your idea of a poem on the lines you suggest
a very good one, and I am sure you could carry it out efliciently. . . A poem
like that you propose, written with the sustained merit of the metrical translations
I received from you, and the reputation you possess of intimate acquaintance with
the Fijian native character, %Y0uld, I am sure, secure it a favourable reception both
here and in the old country, and it would be a thousand pities were anything to
prevent the completion of the project. . . Such a poem published ten years
ago would have attracted no attention, but now the South Seas are every day
coming more prominently before the world, and there seems to be a greater
opportunity. I hope you will persevere."

I desire, further, thankfully to acknowledge the kindness of several brother
workers who greatly helped me, not only by supplying me wdth information, but
also by advising and encouraging natives of ability to write essays for me upon my
advertised subjects. Those much respected and admired natives, whose minds and
Lands worked hard upon the papers in my possession, I heartily thanked long
since. If any of them are yet alive, will my English friends in Fiji please tell
them that again I thank them, and this time in these pages, which, but for them,
could never have been written ? I ween, however, that most of them, with the

The Kings of the Reefs.

army of elders whom tliey interviewed in regard to my investigations, have long
since crossed over to the shores of the blessed.

Last, but by no means least, to me it is a pleasure equalled only by that
experienced in writing the book itself, to here record my very great indebtedness to
the Rev. Lorimer Fison, M.A., for much useful information on important matters,
for many valuable criticisms and suggestions, and for his kindness in reading the
work both before and during its progress through the press.

And now I desire to present The Kinf/s of the Reefs for kindly acceptance by the
Christian public of all denominations, humbly praying that, with other books of the
day having similar aims, it may help to fan into a flame of wise and holy zeal the
missionary spirit, if not likewise to incite the Christian nations of the world to
own, what Britain and America seem now to be practically doing, that Christianity
is the great need alike of heathen and civilised lands, and that, consequently, it
becomes the duty of all Christian states and statesmen, not only everywhere to give
it fairplay, but also to aid its forward march until the hour of final triumph, when
all men, federated in the love of Christ, shall raise their eyes to one God and
lovingly call Him FATHER.

JESSE CAREY.
Box Hill, Melbourne.

(bh^e IJings of the I^eef§

•FOKESWKDOWED.

^5^ ROM the bosom of the ocean,

From the broad Pacific waters,
Where the reef-girt isles of Viti
Lie hke gems in coral settings.
Where the palm tree bowls of nectar
Yields to quench the thirst of savage.
Come these strange and simple stories.
Come these facts of modern epochs.
Telling of the mightv chieftains.
How they took and held the god-land,
Smallest gem among the islands.
Greatest for its deeds of valour ;
Noblest for its line of heroes,
Reigning till appeared the "land-shi])s,"*
Ruling till there came the white man.
Warring till their foes were vanquished,
Conquering until death them concjuercd ;

* Wannka-vfinua, " landsliip " or " lancl-canoe ; ?.('., a canoe as large as a land. This is the
nume given by the Fijlans to ships.

lo The K'wf^s of the Reefs.

Takiiii; then the lonely journey,
l^v the dim blue li,i;ht within them,
'Neath the sea to shores of refuge;
There awaiting wifely matrons,
Sharers in their earthly troubles,
Who, by friendly gods commanded,
Speed along with glee to join them,
In the hidden world of spirits.

Once again the theme renewing,
Will the bard, his story telling,
Tell another monarch's ruling ;
Tell of plots and dark rebellion,
Tell of shameful flight and exile ;
Fate of tyrants, then and ever,
Who the people's welfare seek not ;
Tell his rescue and redemption
To his island home and kingdom,
Through his son's undaunted courage ;
There to die and pass to Hades,
To his proper place and station.

Song shall sing his son, succeeding
To the realm of Mbauan chieftains ;
To its wealth, and cares, and turmoil.
To its swiftly changing fortunes.

The Kings of the Reefs. n

Thought shall run through all his life-time,
Show the foot-prints where he travelled,
And the deeds that men remember ;
Deeds to which his training led him,
And the gods he worshipped sanctioned.
Later on of deeds more noble,
Deeds that spoke a soul within him,
Struggling up against his training,
Seeking how to change his birthright
For a higher, brighter, better,
For himself and for his people.

Thou shalt sing, O favoured singer,
How, by mighty arms and prowess.
By his courage and his wisdom,
By defeat and tribulation.
By his watching and his waiting.
By his knowledge of the tide waves,
Of their flowing and recession ;
By his sounding deeps and shallows,
By his early twilight visions.
And his later Christian dawnlight,'
He became the king of kingdoms,
Rose the head of island empire.

History's pen by Muses wielded.

12 The Kin^s of the Rajs.

Writing on and on, shall tell iu
How a wondrous change came o'er him,
Change that led to deeds of goodness,
Deeds that well became a ruler,
Who, of all his wrongs repenting,
\'owed for God to be a steward,
Vow'cd to be his people's father.
It shall tell events that happened,
Threatened fiercely all around him,
As the sea before its storm walls

Rises, bends, and breaks, then rushes.

Foaming, into peaceful w^aters.

Losing all its noise and fur}-.

It shall tell the reformation

Of this sable ruler's subjects ;

How that, out of dark to daylight

Coming, on they passed to freedom ;

Passed from darkness, grim and pagan,

Passed from strife and awful chaos,

Lawlessness and rule tyrannic,

Into w^ays of life pacific.

Into law^-abiding courses ;

Through the sympathy of white men.

Through the power of Christian precept.

Through the love of hearts made Christ-like,

Through the strong, and e'en the weakling,

The Kings of the Reefs. 13

From whose lips came right instruction,
In whose Hves was holy living.

Thus in easy strains and simple,
Song shall sing these facts and fictions
Into hearts all sympathising
With the black man's life and progress,
With his coming and his going ;
Till, when fall the evening shadows.
He shall wave his hand in weakness
To his white-skinned watching brothers,
And his dark-skinned weeping children,
Watching, weeping for his blessing.

Then behind the fading curtains
Of the western sun-lit cloud-land.
He shall wave that hand in gladness,
Recognising friendly greeting.
To a better, brighter country.
Than was known to all his fathers ;
On the other side of darkness.
Where the light flows aye from features
Of the one great common Father.

^WDMARKg.

-S^

<®>

<@>:r^HERE the ceaseless j'low of sunshine,

8ij

Tempered by refreshing breezes,

i i^l4 <SS^ (jives a cHmate warm and changeless.

'Twixt the planet's great equator

^^>'-f]m^f^ And the Capricornian <jirdle,

^ There the island world of A^iti,

Broken into many pieces
By the giant laws of nature,
Laughs at every storm and tempest.
Down beneath the heaving ocean

Sleep her ancient plains and valleys ;

While from out the waste of waters

Rise the relics of her glory.

Stand the monuments, the mountains ;

Telling all who look upon them

Of their history continental,

Ere the forces rent asunder

Eastern Asiatic countries.

;WE ©IdD \D0RbD ylWKlTS TWE I|e\V.

■-^'J^

g®feORLD of ever-blooming l)c;iuty,
>©>fc Seen and passed by ancient seamen ;
« Passed with care full well to windward,
MS- From a fear of many dangers

Dreamed of in its unknown waters —
Viti waited all unconscious
For the age of ships and wliitemen,
For the day of bolder seamen ;
Waited, till the dread of m\st'ries,
Dread of coral-reef and eurrcnl,
Dread of rock, and shoal, and headkmd,
Dread of men that ate their fellows,
Should no longer keep explorers
From her seas, and gulfs, and harlu.in-,
From her charming landsc:ii)c juc lures,
From her flowers, and fruits, niid liu iid.slup.

'^^^

.t:^.^^

G>1E r^EW U!)ORkD §llRPRISEg TJHE @LD.

■^^

^•t..

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-^~

^^ N the days of Engkind's Nelson,
Science true, and manh' courage
Of the bravest sons of Neptune,
Laughing down all superstition.
Sailors' yarns, and dreams, and legends,
Rocks, and reefs, and shoals, and eddies.
Savage human-body eaters,
Gods, and sharks, and imps, and demons.
Every danger seen and unseen.
Brought a vessel near the islands.

Soon the stranger, sailing grandly,

Came in sight of wondering natives,

Trembling men and frightened women,

Little children hllcd with terror.

Stalwart chiefs just in from Mbauland,

Gazing at the moving wonder,

Pondering what was going to happen.

Ere the day had closed around them,

The Kings of the Reefs. ly

While the sun to rest was sinkine:,
Drowning, in a heaving, restless
Sea of molten golden glory.
Blending into softest twilight,
Dropt the anchor through the water.
Whirring down some twenty fathoms,
And the toil-worn seamen rested.
Then uprose a piercing kaila,*
Noise that none can make but savage ;
Shout of terror, shout of wonder,
Shout of fear's instinctive challenge,
'Twas the awe-inspiring war-whoop.
Noise of anchor rattling downwards,
Whoop of savage whooping wildly,
British cheers from British seamen.
Woke the mingled mountain echoes !

Ceased the anchor's noisy whirring,
Ceased the kaila wlioop of savage,
Ceased the British sailors' cheering.
Ceased the echoes in the mountains.
Still they stood, those sable ( liu ll;iiiis,
With their people crouching louiid llieiii,
Watching wlieic the ,L;allaiil stranger
Held the ground and lode al anchor.

Kaila, Uie sbrill, iirolonged, tieuiulouB yill, wliicli annuunceH ii buiI in BiRlU.

c,.c :.:c;^_,,,.,...,,.,,_^%:)

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_/? GHIEFkV I^ESOkVE.

r.'

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._.^.^

:>k

>|>^ ROM the group of silent warriors,
ci>£ Forth there strode, all grand and regal.
One of kingly rank and bearing.
Head of hair of wondrous measure,
Round about some forty inches.
With a comb in front projecting;
Trailed behind him train of whiteness,
Made by woman's hand and mallet
Of the pliant bark of mast*
For her lord so proud and haughty,

\\ hen he walks among his people ;

Comet-like it trailed behind him.

Club on shoulder bore he bravely,

Bore in other hand a palm shade ;

Palm of victory 'tis in war time,

And in peace time shade from sunshine.

Fearing panic 'mong his people

^:sJ^

^^f'
V

* Masi, tlie paper mulberry (Brougsoneiia papynifera, Vext.)

The Kings of the Reefs. 19

More than vessel in the offing,

Up he spoke to all around him,

Chiefly men and slaves, the kaisi.*

Then he named the foreign vessel.

Called her "Land-ship," "Floating-Island,"

"God-ship," built by god-like builders.

Told his people what his mind was.

" See," said he, with voice untrembling,
"Where the ship her sails is furling;
'Tis respectful to our country.
See her chieftain beckoning to us ;
Not for war, but peace, her mission !
Do you ask me what my mind is ?
I will tell you, I will answer :
'Tis to go and see the stranger,
See this floating island wonder,
See her men, and gods, and master !"

Then a score of voices answered :
" Do not act so rashly, Katu,
Go not, sir, on board to sec them ;
They will kill you, they wiU eat you,
• Or, if not, will take you from us ;
We shall be without }()ur counsel,
You will ne'er return to (iod-land,
Ne'er go back to Mbau, \our birlli-place.

• Knisi, an abominable word iipi.lied to Ihe lowest okIct ..f tlu' \><t>]>\v.

20 The Kiiii^s of till' Rct/s.

K.i N.i-uli-\\iu, • iHir cajUaii^
Stc'crin^ now so well our nation,
Katu, sir, do not thus leave us."
Then the chief, his head up tossing,
Like a soldier going to battle.
Spoke again, but still more firmly:

" Mbauans never vet were cowards ;
Are they not from gods descended ?
Is their citv not in (xod-land ?
I will go and board the stranger,
See her chiefs and all her wonders.
If they kill me, if they eat me.
Or transport me o'er the ocean,
You will all go back to Mbauland,
AH report me to my children,
All declare me gone from 'mong vou
To the world of chiefly spirits."
Thus the chief, who then to favourites
Turning, gave his orders promptl}- :
" Scull us to the monster vessel.
Let us go, that they may eat us."

* Xa-uli-vou, "the new rudder."

. eiB-efe-efe-(!fe-rf»>-(3o-(*-cfe-^ .

.jy.,jj..ip.«p.sp.3^.sp.sp.»p..;p.5p.«p.ap.^r5p.sp.«p:^^

\)c)>iITE K]\f) t)UAQ:K ^KY\f)'g ©LPiSP.

-k:^'

So O they rowed him to the vessel,

Where the great man, "Mata ndamu,"*
Gave him hearty Enp^hsh j^reetini;,
Shook him by the liand witli ardour,
As when friend greets friend at nut ting.
After many 3'ears of absence.
Ever since tliat da)' eventful,
In the ninc^teenth centurx's dawning,
When the white man took the Mac k man

By the hand, to give him welcome

To the deck of British vessel ;

And the black man took the while man

By the hand, to give him greeting

To the seas and shores of Viti';

Slowly through the years, but surely,

Distance has decreased between lluin.

* Mnta ndninu, lit., " Rf>(l fnnp ;" Uie iiamn fiivfii l)y Hu' milivoK lo (lio oiipliiin (>( llio vchm.-I.

The Kiuf^s of the Reefs.

Ami llu' l;uU so Ions; tluHi,i;lu hrid^ck^ss,
]\\\<^ hcHMi s}>anntHl 1>\- fricndK handsh.'ike.
Now tlio wliito iran and the black man
Subjects are beneath one standard ;
How the good was consummated,
Time and further son<7 shall tell us.

Head of hair of wondrous measure." — See p. 18.

rc9^

^0SPIT7\LITIEi

'i ...

^|^|-IGHT was falling on the waters,

mm,

^SS^ Dropping softly on the mountains,

5s<-

,;w!©>

1P@ @"® %:© © © '3 © @;©@©' „

^®>tj. And the moon already lighted,
^©S'P With a pure and snowy whiteness,

\<y^

All the isle-begirdling reef-crest,
When Na-uli-vou, the chieftain,
With attendants filled with wonder,
Reached the shore and joined his jieojile
Not to sleep did they betake them,
But to bringing from tin- gardms.

From the groves and rich plantations,

Fruits, and cocoanuts, for presents ;

Their loloina, love gifts many,

For the god-ship's friendl\- master.

When the white man, on the morrow,

Saw the love gifts, the loloiiia, ■

Saw the yams and rijie bananas,

Saw the laro' and the j);ilni-nuls,

* Tnro, "arum osculfntmii."

The Ki)ii:^s of the Reefs.

puick he hastened, in his Lihulness,
To reiiuite the hlaek nian's kindness;
Sayiui;, as lie named his offerings,
Rv dumb signs as best lie eonld do :

" Take these things as my thanksgiving,

For the gifts \ou bring in kindness ;

Take the monkey and the zv/s/,*

Take the useful knives and hatchets.

Take the cloth and all the axes;

Take the white man, tired of sea life,

He will gladl}' dwell among you,

Show you workmanship surprising.

Take them all, and take them safely

To Na-uli-vou, your chieftain.

And when in his island city,

In the seat of his dominion,

Ask your chief to tell his subjects

There are other worlds than Viti

Far away beyond his islands ;

Over sea and over ocean,

There to eastward, there to westward.

On the northward and the southward ;

Whence, in days to come, expect them,

Land-ships, floating-islands, god-ships,

Like to mine at which you wonder.

* Vusi, '■ pussy." The captain gave a cat, which was looked upon with wonder and reverential awe.

The Kings of the Reefs.

Sailing from those far-off countries,
Greeting, they will come to see you,
Come to seek your friendly welcome."

Thus the white and black man parted.

Then the captain gave his orders

To his bronzed and hard}' seamen :

" Heave the anchor up, my hearties I
For," said he, his mates addressing,
" Sandle-wood must still be sought for
Where the native chief has told us
'Tis in plenty on the Great-land."*

* Vanua levu, the largest island in Fiji, next to Navitilevu. It was Iierc that the supply of
sandalwood was obtained.

F~:^*s:*>s&?^§^:^^

:r!i>?^J^,.'SftSL>^''

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2)VEr\ TWE f^OKO §E7\,

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'"^!^MEN the black men found their chieftain,
^v^ Gave their presents, and reported

All the god-ship's captain told them.
Promptly thus the great man answered :
" Good, indeed, this day the gods are.
Now with speed we'll hoist our mat sail,
Swiftly Hee to Mbau's fair island ;
Tell the old men and the young ones,
Tell the priests and all the people,
Tell our ladies, our maramas,
There's another world, a new one,
Proof whereof behold these presents."

Then uprose those sailor Mbauns,
Reared the mast and hxed the halliards,
Drew the anchors of then* vessel —
All the stakes that held her firmly —
Hoisted up the sail with shouting.

The Kings of the Reefs. 27

Then before the favouring breezes,

O'er the Koro sea they bounded,

Towards the isle of Mbau their homehmd.
'Twas a chiefly day for saihng ;

Wind on quarter, work was easy.

Hence the chieftain and his people

Joined in singing, joined in clapping,*

Joined in talking of the past times.

And in speaking of the future.

Oft in fun the waves addressing,

Bade them come on board to dinner ;

Or, if that would suit them better.

Keep a quite respectful distance ;

Waves obedient kept their distance,

Lapping one another's faces,

As the vessel threw them from her.

"All things peaceful," spokf tlu' chicfl.iin.

Spoke Na-uli-vou, the mighty,

" I am thinking, () I m_\- children,

As we sail across these waters,

Of the strange new times we iixc in.

Of the better da\s m i)r()Si)ect.

I am thinking of the sa\ings

Of our long-departed sages ;

Of their words so ofl prophetic,

* Fijian mehs (>ou«.s) arc emphftsiscd l.y siimiltaneoii.s liandclapH

_>s

1 he Kiiii^s of the Reefs.

Tcllinu; of tlu' ihiiii^s lo haiijicn.
And from oul ihcsc Llu)U,i;hts abundant
Comes to memory one strange story,
Told me I))- our clever Talker,
When 1 was a younger sailor.
He shall tell it, we will listen."
" Tell it to us, we will listen,"
Said the \oung men to the Talker.
Then the Talker, old Mdauvosa,
Told the tale his chief remembered.

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^WE (gWIMMIJ^G (^EER..

f AR awav in l)\-<7onc nses

Came a stran^'cr to our island.
He was old and .small of stature,
Wet and hun,c^rv, faint and tremhliuL; :
But for two bamboos he leaned on
He could not have stru.c;-,L;led f(M-\var(l.
They had often helped hiin, swimmiui;,
Now they kept him up from failiuL^,
Till ai^ainst a tree hv rested.
Stren,2;th rerovca'ed, on he \-entured,

Leavin,ej by the tree his li{e-buo\s.

Then at nearest doorway enterini^s

Helpless fell upon the mattini;.

Here they ^^ave him warm refreslimciU,

Spread -the sleepinjj^ mats beneath him,

Hunp; around him (:os\- eurtnins.

In the dark and silent midni-ht,

All the members of the hnus( hold

^o The Kini^s of (he Reefs.

W'cvc .iw.ikiMiod 1>\ his noises,
(IrtKiniiiL^s such as poopU' utter
When the\- ^rec^t their l(M-iil\- ruUTS ;
'TuMS his ij^od who made him do it,
Made him honour Alhauan chieftains.

When lie rose in early mornin,<;',
Walked about to sec the liouses,
Who should meet him hut a woman
Of the tribe of Mbauan soldiers ?
\\"ith her pitcher she was hastening
To the sea to fetch some water,
For the breakfast yams to boil in.
When the man — Nggorai his name was-
Saw the woman going for water.
He entreated, he implored her,
Saying, " O, Marama,* get me
Just one; precious root of kava."
Whereupon the woman, seeing
How his weakness needed something,
Hastened, in her woman's kindness.
Brought him one good root of kava.
Words were not to thank her needed.
She perceived them, ere he spoke them,
In his eyes so glad and grateful ;

* Marama. " Lady."

The Kings of the Reefs. 31

Sparkling as these eyes of mine do

At the white man's priceless presents,

Ciiven to our mighty chieftain.

Then Nggorai, the trembling stranger,

Taking up the root of kava,

Hastened to the house he slept in,

Gave it to his host, the chieftain,

Who, accepting, thus addressed him :

"Whence, and why, and how cam'st hither,

To this chiefl}^ Mbauan country ?

W^ast thou wrecked, and wherc's thy vessel ?

Wrecked men are the god-abandoned."'

Then Nggorai, the wise and wary,

Told the chieftain whence he; came from,

How he came, and what his mission.

Harken to his cherished story,

Treasured since by every Mljauan.

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^^ X tlie Somosomo country

h Lives a god of power and knowledge ;

v:-

i Vatumundre, people call him,

X. (Zephyr-rock, the simple meaning).

I, his servant, oft betook me,

When the town was hot and stiiiing,

To his high and breezy outlook.

For its mountain air and freshness,

r^or its quiet contemplation.

Lately, when I there resorted,

Lo, his voice I heard, commanding.

Firm and solemn were his orders :

" Thou, the priest of Vatumundre,
Rise, and enter on thy mission.
Greatest work of all thy life-time.
Take these life-buoys, bamboo floaters
They will keep thee up from sinking.

The Kings of the Reefs. :^:^

Go, and launch thee torth on ocean,
Swim to islands I will show thee,
Bear my message to their chieftains
Tell them they by gods are chosen
To be rulers of the nations,
Lords of all these vast dominions."

Daring not to disobe}' him,
I the bamboos took and hastened
Where the rock o'erlooks the ocean.
Springing thence, as one determined
Death to face when duty calls him,
Down I plunged through air to ocean.
There I swam, and trod, and floated,
Till before my gladdened e)e-sight
Rose the loom of Koro's island.
Tired of swimming, tired of battling
With the angr)- seas and currents,

"Here," said I, "on Koro's island
Will I land, and see the heroes
Whom the gods have wisely chosen
Of this w^orld to be the rulers."
But the god, my master, answered :

" Onward, forward, do thy swinnnini;
This is not the \)\:\cv to land ;il,
Tliis is not the isle to rest in.

The Kiui^s of the Reefs.

This is not llu' scat of rulers,
'This is l)Ul ihv home of scrwints,
(IrcnvcM's of ihv vam f<^r princes;
Kin^s o( \][] dwell to westward."
Thrn 1 strcntitliencd heart and muscle
h^^r the task that lay before me
Thnm.i^di the perils of the sea-path ;
As wjien often human spirits,
h'reed from flesh, do hasten ij;ladly,
Towards IMburotu's happy country,
To the realm of peace and plenty,
()n and on I toiled and laboured,
Swam, and fou^j^ht, and drifted onward,
Till mv eyes, again enchanted,
Saw W'akaia's lovely island
Gleamin,f( in the morninf;- sunlight ;
Till m\- ears, witli untold pk^asure,
Heard its coral reef-walls moaning.
Heard the splasliing and the dashing.
Oh. the roaring, crashing, booming
Noise that sounds e'en now within me !
Awful as it is, 'tis welcome
As the feast-day's stirring drum-beat
To the sailor, sailing homeward.
Passing through the awful passage,
I'Tom the dreadful seas and turmoil.

The Kings of the Reefs. 35

To the calm and peaceful harbour ;
Else it sounds as direful death-drum,
Tellinf^ helpless shipwrecked seamen,
Whom the ,f(ods have just deserted,
Of the hun<j;ry foes in waitin,^-
For their comino; to the ovens.

I had passed the awful peril ;
Ri,i2jht behind me poured the waters,
Right before me rose the palm-trees.
I could see the nuts in clusters
'Neath the feathery branches hanging
How I hanged to drink their nectar !
I could hear the wash of wavelets
Move with shuffling noise the shingle
Hear the parrakeet's harsh whistle ;
Hear the laughter of the womc-n,
Fishing round the point thai hid me,
As I swam in weakness shoix-wards.
When 1 touched the sandy boUom,
Then my heart lea])(;d up within me.
" Now, at last, my toil is ended,"
Said I, with a life-j)lung(> forward,
" I'll ascend to land and rest me.
See the wis(; and might) rulers
Of the Viti <>'( the future."

The Kiiii^s of the Reefs.

LiHulrr than [Uv ronr t.n s(\'n\;n"(l,
C'lcariM" ih.in tlic souikIs to landward,
Came a^ain ni\- inastcr's orders ;
As at Kovo lie rommandc^d,
W'lien I ilious^lu m\- swim mini;' over.

"Hall not here, but do th\- swimminij^;

This is not the plaee to land at,

This is Hot the isle to rest in,

This is not the seat of rulers

Who to ruK- the lands are destined ;

This is l)ut a plaee of rcfuj^e

For their f^reat canoes in storm -time ;

Kinf(s of \'iti dwell to southward."

Whereupon I (grasped my floaters

With a firmer hold than ever.

Strength empowered me when I gripped them,—

Gods ne'er leave the men that serve them — ■

Forth I swam the dangerous passage,

For the unknown watery pathway.

Round Wakaia's northern headland.

Straight for Ovalau I headed,

Fought and plunged through all the sea-swell

Raging 'twixt these lovely islands.

When I saw Toko's tall land-mark,

Thumb-like, skyward clearly pointing,

The Kings of the Reefs. 37

Gladness made me all the stronger.
Soon I left behind the dangers,
Swam from roughness into -Smoothness,
Touched once more the sand beneath me,
Said, " From trouble now I'll rest me."
But in startling quickness followed
Vatumundre's gracious orders :

"Onward! Rest not here, my servant;
Forward, southward, towards the mainland
Enter there the widest opening
Thou hast ever seen in reef-walls.
On the right and left observe them,
Reefs that show thy pathway inward
To the land of regal rulers,
To the isle oi coming great men."

Oh, the change that then came o'er me,
'Twas as if the gods possessed me !
Swimming is an easy business.
When fur gods \ou undertake it.
Day and night through all my struggle,
'Twas an mspiration to me.
Like a mighty hsh I travelled.
Till abreast the wondrous passage.
Greatest I should ever enter.
There the ocenn rollers took me.

^S Tlw Kuii^s of the Rci/s.

St'iii iiu' iu>hini; lhrou.L;h the channel
' Twixl its kn^thcniiiL; walls ot coral.
W hill' hctoic- nic, looking westward,
Looking; northward, looking' southward,
Rose Xavitilexirs n"H)untains.
Never \ et in all nn life-time
Had I seen so ,i;rancl a country;
One so tit for ,i;od-like rulers,
Rulin.L,' all the world with Hrmncss.
I was headini; for the mainland
When mv master's voice within me
Turned me from my foolish blunder.
" Rulers great," I thought, " must surely
Aye abide in massive mountains."
But my master elsewise taught me.
" Not in that direction lieth
What thou art in earnest search of.
Yonder, see a little island.
Like a i)oint of low^land, jutting
From the darker line of inangroves.
Right behind that knoll is hidden
Parent town of w^arlike Mbauans,
Seat of coming master rulers."

Then my heart began to fail me,
As I thought, and thought, and wondered

The Kings of the Reefs. 39

More than ever at m}- mission.

Must I go and tell the people,

Living near the mangrove forest,

They shall take that little island,

And from thence rule all the kingdoms ?

They shall woo, or buy, or conquer

All the now contending nations ;

Bind them in one common empire,

Gather up the drifting pieces,

Splice, and tie them all together

Into one canoe and chiefly.

Fit for any kind of weather ?

" Yes," the master answered in me,

" You must land and tell the message,

Bravely all my words deliver."

Hence the truth I'm lu're to w\\ \i>ii,
Truth sluHild ever make us Uuiull).
So your query now I've answered;
Told you whence 1 came and wherefore.
Not a castawa} and sln'pw retired,
God-deserted, friendless seamLin,
Fit for being cooked and eaten,
Like the men 1;) g(jds abandi >in(l.
Which your c[uestion nUniiated.

The K'nis^s of Die Reefs.

N>'. liul true and railliful servant,
S\\ unniini;' willi his niasloi's orders ;
( )rdfrs of ,i;rraL X'.ituniundrc,
(iod ol Somosomo's soldiers,
i\od, Nakorothau men worship.

A CUIEF S GRAVE.

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|<;ERE the chicflx' tiilkcr rested,

Paused and pondered, tlien proeeeded.
p I have told you, you have heard it,
Nggorai's story and prediction.
All the rest you clearly wot of —
How our fathers heard the swimmer,
Heard him forecast all llu future,
Heard him tell our countrN's greatness.
How they cheered him, shouting;-. " Mana !
Ndina ! Ndina! true and mi,i;lu\ !"

Clapped their hands in admiration.

You have heard our minstrel.s sing il.

How our hero-father.^ feastc;d

Nggorai, for his godly message.

How they kept liim long and gladly.

Made him welcome in their hou.ses ;

How, at last, with many riches,

Home in big canoes lhe\- look Inm.

Thf K'uii^s oj the Reefs.

TIkii rciuiiu'd wilh ;ill his offerings

I'roni ihc land o{ X'atumundrc.

^'uu liavc heard, for oft 'tis spoken,

liiiw ai;ciin he came to see them,

Thank them for their princely treatment ;

Bringing with him many princes

From the realm of Thakaundrove.

\\)\.\ have heard that ever after —

Who in Viti has not heard it ? —

When the chieftains of his country

Came to Mbau, the land of heroes,

Down the\- droj) the sail and furl it,

When as \et the shore is distant,

Showing thus our higher station.

When within our iskmd city,

They in solemn imitation.

Imitate Nggorai the swimmer.

Imitate their country's prophet.

Lest his deeds should be forgotten.

Four full days they celebrate them.

Not in feasting, nor in drinking.

But as shipwrecked, starved and wretched,

Through the streets, forlorn and abject,

Each one creeps and cringes onward ;

Halting, trembling, paddling, shivering.

Like a drowning rat and helpless.

The Kings of the Reefs. 43

Which the swimmer much resembled.
When the ancient farce is over,
All our home life is before them ;
Then we cheer, and feast, and please them,
Treat them all with princely treatment.
You, my nobles all, have noticed,
Where, behind our little island.
Near the tangled wood of mani^a-oves.
When our vessels we would anclior.
Nought but solid rock is met with ;
Save a single hole, so welcome
To the seamen drifting inwards.
'Tis the hole Nggorai, the might\-,
Made, by striking like a giant,
Through the stone his vessel's anchor.
When he sought our favoured city ,
Smitten be the tribe that iills it !
Further on, you see them waving.
Ail the bamboos, tall and graceful,
Sprung from tliose the proj^het planted.
When his mighty feat was hnished ;
Palsied be the hand that cuts them !

■<^'

_--L-i.;.MlIIs«tl!i-L.Iswi..«55/^y'

(i)WE 9oaj<IDERS OF @MP1R.E,

^^W

R.©>ltIIILE the sea is smooth and restful,
■ 1^1^ And the talking ht is on me,
^<^ Said the nation's Story-teller,

5ffl^ I will tell you of our growin<:r

. ;^© @® @. © @«) ©•© @ © s> @;<x

;?^^W¥¥¥^fri^¥¥m Out of weakness into power;

How the swimmer's great prediction

Has a clearer meaning for us.

I will tell you of our fathers.

Of the work they left behind them,

Work for us to carry forward.

Many years be}'ond my counting

Are the years since Mbau was founded.

I can tell 3'ou, I can count them,

All the gardens I have planted,

Since my loins received the uiasL '

Some among us still remember

What the counting was, of gardens

* Masi, "the waist-cloth," the token of manhood.

The Kings of the Reefs. 45

Planted by their fathers' fathers ;
But the very oldest o^reyhead,
In his house abraiding sinnet,
Cannot surely p^ive the reckoninc;
Of the years, the many seasons,
Since the ^ods, in consultation,
Brou.c^ht too'ether i^od and ^oddcss.
Hero he, of wondrous wisdom,
Goddess she, of peerless merit ;
Made them founders of our nation.
Years in countless tens foro;otton
Hurried on in peace and trouble.
Little work and less of pro^-ress,
Till NgjTjorai's foretellinjj; started
Thouo^ht of empire in our fathers.
Then uprose a warrinii; chieftain,
Worthy of the <.:;reat occasion.
'Twas our master's fatlier's father,
Kin,£; Nailatikau they called him, -
Wooden door to close the doorway
Is the meaning of his title, —
Safer door than one of wicker,
If in peace you'd sleep at niohf-timc
In the hero's da}-s of power,
Mbau was not a rej;al city.
But the home of scrvin.u lishcrs,

^6 Tlic Kings of tJic Reefs.

Men who tislied for men and fishes ;
Cau,i;ht ihe women or the children,
As the mainhmd chiefs commanded.
But tliere came a time of hunger,
When tlie fishers, in their craving,
Ate a fish h}' chiefs forbidden.
Then the war drum broke its silence.
King Nailatikau was angry,
Rose to battle in his anger,
Drove the fishers from their island.
And, the gods wdth joy obeying,
Came himself and lived upon it,
Bringing with him many chieftains.
Thence he started firmer ruling.
Ruled the tribes around with sternness.
Faced his threatening foes with courage ;
Looked at Rewa on the southward,
At Verata on the northw^ard,
One by blood and by religion,
Having common gods to worship.
One they were, to crush his kingdom,
If his gods \vould only let them.
But his gods, as I have told you,
Moved our chieftains from the mainland ;
Moved them to the least of islands,
Safe from every jealous foeman.

<;§os=-

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©KE (©iR.E?\T (gSTTXTES.

©9 LL the great estates for ruling,"
Said the ghb historic talker,
" Had their scat within the island.
First and foremost in the kingdom
Came the high and sacred monarch ;
All the nation's institutions
Were within his lawful keeping.
Sanction aye he gave to worship.
Rites, and forms, and special offerings,
For the temple-gods' acceptance.

When the kava round was handed

At a great and state occasion.

On his head he wore a turban,

Gauzy, white as foam of breaker.

None but he of all the chieftains

Dare at such a time to wear it.

But for active legislation.

For the trials and the troubles.

48 The Kijii^s of the Reefs.

\\v was innvlicrc, he was no one.
Vox ilie laws' administration,
Vov the schcMiiint;-, and tlie plotting',
Vox tlie (ears, and foes, and li.i^htini;-,
Vox the nation's foreii^n business
With the tribal hordes around liim,
One there was, the real monarch,
Ivulinc like a master statesman,
Wise in counsel, brave in battle ;
\'uni\alu was his title,
C'hief commander of the forces,
Title <;Teat for all successors.

After these, the chief adviser,
Ciuardian of the chieftains' daughters,
Magistrate to sanction marria<j;e.
Then the priests in number countless.
Woe to him that e'er offends them !
Next the men of wondrous vision.
Called the country's eyes, the Matas ;
These in every great emergence
Undertook negotiation
At the courts of neighbouring princes.
Followed here some other great ones,
Then the nation's inbati, soldiers,
Men with clubs, and bows, and arrows,

The Kings of the Reefs. 49

Born to fight and win our l)attles,

Trained to lead us on to conquest.

Artisans were next in order ;

Men that build canoes and launch thorn,

Build our temples and our houses,

Make our kava bowls, and pillows,

And the war clubs for the soldiers.

Were such w^orkmen taken from us,

We should be a helpless nation.

After these the turtle fishers,

Clever with their nets of sinnc^t ;

Then the earthen vessel makers,

Women, making water-bottles.

Making crocks of many sizes.

Then throughout the land in numbers,

Many clever earnest workers,

W^omen, girls, and little children,

Making fans, and niats, and baskc^ts.

Making fishing nets and clotliing.

And, besides them, many others.

Wise and clever handicraftsmen,

Who have helped the land to })ros})cr.

For the nation's great advanccmcnl.
King NailatikTiLi was grateful,
Thankful, he upreared a tc;mple,

50 l^^<-' l\iii^^ of Ihc Reefs.

Where the priest nii,i;ht dwell and worship,

And aecept the people's offerings.

Hut in that i^lad season, ehildren,

When he fain would see his fortune

In the swinimin*;' seer's predietion,

And of Viti be the ruler,

Throuj^h his doorway sternly entered

Death, the chief of all the chieftains.

Neither wicker doors nor wooden

Can the tyrant keep from coiTiin<j^,

Club in hand, in wrath to clul) us.

King Nailatikau departed

To the hidden land of spirits,

And they buried him in Mbauland ;

* First of offerings,' so they named him,

To the little island's graveyard.

There they raised a temple o'er him.

Sacred to his hero spirit ;

We shall see it ere the nightfal,

If the wind our speed shall quicken.

Then succeeded great Mbanuvi,

Father of our lordly master,

Ruled with ease a quiet people ;

Reigned o'er years of unprogression,

Years unmarked by ought eventful,

Save the coming of the seasons,

The Kings of the Reefs.

Save the blooming of the Ndrala,*

With its gay and scarlet flowers,

In the months when yams are planted.

Yet the nation moved not backwards ;
Moved, it may be, gently forward,
Like the good canoe we sail in,
Gliding, lazy, through the water."

"Lower down the sail, Rangone!"
Said the master to his children
('Tis the way their chiefs address them),
" Scull the lazy vessel onward,
Till the breeze again shall board us."

Ceased the talker in his stor}'
While the seamen sculled the vessel
O'er the calm and glassy water.

* Erijtltrina Indicn, Linn.

■mM

y? Q^VSTERIOllS fj^VT^DER.

"<T'

<f JiTEX the l)reeze ap;ain IkicI freshened,
ijiL. On thev Mided o'er the ocean,
^"^ Whereupon the Talker hastened
S<E With his great historic stor}'.
^:,r'^-v^-'4rW¥*¥¥wW^>K Said he, " Children, brief the calm was,
Iri-f'-^J '"'"^ And the old men often tell us

^4^
«=?»

' Weather foul will follow peaceful.'
So at last it was in Viti.

^ Whilst Mbanuve held the steer oar,

From the Windward Isles behind us

Chieftains came, his land to visit,

Bringing with them foreign wonders,

Manufactures made by deft ones ;

Whole and broken drinking vessels.

Earthenware of many patterns.

Nor by women of Vutia,

Nor by them of great Navatu,

Were they planned, and made, and polished,

But by gods beyond the ocean.

The Kings of the Reefs. 53

When with wonderioiL^ eyes we saw them,

Said we all, ' What next will happen ? '

Ah, the calm that stopped our sailing

Tells me, as in prophets' vision,

Now the breeze is growing stronger,

What to us to-day may happen.

Ere the night drops on the mountains

There may come a dangerous tempest ;

Such as overtook our country

Wlien the chieftains brought the wonders,

Floated to them from a god-ship,

Like the one we left this morning,

Only broken by the coral

At command of wrathful demons.

We had only just but said it,
Only said, 'What next will happen?'
When, behold, the gods all angered,
Fell upon us like an army.

Fought, and clubbed, and speared, and killed us.
Though their clubs and spears we saw not.
Yet the blows we felt, and anguish;
Saw ourselves, and sons, and daughters,
Fall as soldiers in the battle,
Fall before the conquering foeman.
Never mountaineer so savage !

The Kings of the Reefs.

Never warrior so dclcrniincd !

Never t}T.iiU so relentless !

Oh, the siekness most distressing,

Oh, the cramps, and pangs, and purgings,

XHK CHIEF S GKAVKUIGGEK.

Oh, the moaning and the groaning;
Oh, the stillness of the dying
And the silent dead around us !
Ne'er before in all our history

The Kings of the Reefs. 55

Were so many taken from us.
Graves we dug not for the bodies,
But in common pits we threw them ;
Chiefs and ladies, men and women,
Soldiers, serfs, and slaves, the kaisi.
Oh, the woe and lamentation
That arose from every village !
Nevermore with such a sickness
May the gods come forth to hght us !
Ere the war of death had ended,
When 'twas at its height of fur\-.
While the helmsman held the steer-oar,
Stood, the nation not forsaking.
In its weeping and its wailing,
He was smitten at his duty.
King Mbanuve dropped the steer-oar.
And his widows followed after
In obedience to the statute ;
Death forbidding aye to sever
Chiefly men and chief!)' women,
Joined together by the nation.
Buried in the mausoleum
Where Nailatikau is sleeping,
There, to-day, they lie, to tell us
Of the direful visitation.

' ^HE ©UTbOOK.

J © ©■© ©-©. €5 © © ® ■©: @;<r

<|,>pl^-'^i ii) my nobles, changes all things;
^-s^J Times and titles, men and manners.
|t E'en the chieftain's names it wrested,

J& Threw them into blank oblivion,

WW^4?W'"-^"W*>i<; Gave us one instead, to tell us

hf^'^'i^'^wJoW^ What befell our smitten country

When we name him we must call him.
* Victim-of-the- Unknown-sickness.'

Since the gods of Mbau appointed
Him who holds the nation's rudder,
Changes great and small have followed ;
Changes, such as after storm-floods.
Change to greenness and to richness
x-\ll the flat and lowland countries.

Oil we had to oil the body,
In the cocoanut we found it;
Now it lights our smoky houses,

The Kings of the Reefs. 57

Where, before, the reeds and bamboos

Served as dim and fitful torches.

Then tobacco, most abundant,

As a weedy thing we treated,

But of late have learned to prize it ;

For it calms and soothes the weary.

Cheers the workman in his garden.

Cheers the sailor on the water.

See, the boys aboard are folding

Cigarettes, to give the chieftain

For his comfort and enjoyment.

Thus ahead the nation pushes ;
And in looking, wondering, thinking
Ax. the progress we are making,
Fain I would the questions answer,
Whereunto these changes lead us ?
What may mean these foreign jiresiMUs
From the white man's slii}) and cnuiUrx'
What the white man sailing with us ?
If we can but learn to use them
They may help us rise yet higher.
Lo, the prospect, close before us,'
Near as Ovalau, but misty
As the island's cloud-capped summit.
What if other white men's vessels

The K'ni^s of tlic Rtcfs.

C\ini(.' wiili presents still more precious ;

Come with war clubs, bows and arrows,

Better than our own for battle ?

Then we'll rise and tie together

All the kingdoms, great and little ;

Thakaundrove, Vuya, Mbua,

Rewa, Tholo, and Verata,

Far Yasawa and Kandavu,

Lomaloma and Lakemba,

And the Isles of Middle Viti ;

One and all, without exception,

Make them tributary to us.

Bind them in one mighty empire !

Did not Swimming Seer proclaim it ?

Princes, will it be in our time,

Or in theirs who follow after ?

Let the knowing gods determine.

Ended now is all my story,

But my thinking travels onward."

y^^^i^^

^^^5^^

^KIR \BlJ^13 BUT "^Ollk \}©EPiTWER.

'•■II^IIIM"

^^fHILE the minstrel charmed his hearers,
Ji All on board were drawn around him,
Save the three that served the vessel.
y. These, the steersman, steering deftly,
^1 In the hold the baler, baling,

And the sheetman, watching keenly
When to haul or when to slacken.
As the wind or course demanded.
All the rest were forward, sitting
In the shadow of the mat sail,
Screened from fierce and scorching sun ray.

Hardly had the wise man ended,
Scarcely had the people cheered him,
When a shark with swiftness passed llicin ;
And the wind, behind them veering,
Sent the untrimmed vessel plunging.
Leaping headlong under water.
In the panic many voices

6o 21ic Kings of the Reefs.

Shouted wildly many orders,

Loudest of tlicni rose the wrong one.

" Maul the sheet in!" Someone said it,

Someone blundered like a landsman.

Then the weighted vessel, diving,

Shot like arrow 'neath the surface.

In the sickening awful moment.

Midst the sinking and the gurgling,

In the fear of sharks and drowning,

One there was that cried, " Sorova ! "

Little w^ord, but full of meaning.

"Slack the sheet!" But once he said it,

Off it flew, up rose the vessel,

Baled by strong-armed balers, baling

With a manful will to free her ;

Rose from out her watery cerements,

Staggered up to do her sailing.

'Twas the king that gave the order.

'Twas Naulivou that saved her.

>MKT _/fWFak ^ISH.

IS Naulivou can save us,

He's the chief to rule the nation,
And of many petty kingdoms
Make a mighty Federation,"
Said a youthful chieftain, l)lithely.
But a priest, o'er hearing, answered,
"What of all the evil omens,
Sinking ship in smoothest water.
Going down in calmest weather ?
What of that dread ocean monster
Gliding round us in our mishap,
Knowing when 'twas going to hai-»pen.
Knowing, for 'twas he ordained it ?
Yet not one among us tamn\l,*
Gave the cry of true devotion !
Wrathful is he lurking near us.

* "Tama" is the respectful shout with wliich a chief is greeted. Tlie sliark lihould liiivo Ix'cn
honoured by the " tama."

62 The Kings of (he Reefs.

These are sijjjns that tell us jilainly
Great and grievous plots are working
In the minds of restless spirits,
In the hearts of jealous neighbours,
To destroy our Master's power.
Lo ! where comes again the monster.
Let us do him instant homage ;
Tama I greet him as the sea-god !"

Then the chieftains doffed their turbans,

Shouted loud with manly voices

To the chief of deadly fishes.

To the greatest foe of seamen,

To the dread of every swimmer :

" Munduo!" and "Wo!" they shouted.

" You have done it well and truly,"

Said the master of the temple ;
*' Much of evil will be warded
By the timely recognition
Of that awful fish behind us.
Plots may come, as comes bad weather,
Or, as nasty trick of diving
Comes to vessels all unwary.
When from aft the breezes catch them.
Or, as shark-god comes to fight us,
Eat us, when in sin we slight him,
And our chief will meet them boldly,

The Kings of the Reefs.

As he met our latest peril.

But the day the stripling spoke of,

When the tribes shall be united,

Rises not within his ruling,

He shall only haste its coming."

>->

TORPKIIO FISU.

y? 0RIISTV ^ITTkE ^ObDlER.

V;.-*--

— I^l'l-

^|;^HARK and sinkin*;- shij-i forgotten,

'=4-

>|c>^ In the fair and spanking breezes;

<|>'^ O'er the playful waters bounding

^vyx /, \/x/\/Nx/\/^©<ll With the chieftains swept the vessel ;

i,<-f*'^t}l^'i.'':^r-^'T-r+3^%"+>fs Saihni'- m the ancient pathway

^Cs^^^^f*^^'^9 ^^^ ^^^^ god-inspired swimmer.

Till she made the princely island
Where at home the heroes rested.

When they showed the wondrous presents,
Brought from white man's ship and country,
Wild excitement moved the people
Far and near to come and see them.
Days, and weeks, and months departed,
Still the stream of gazers ceased not.
None came thither empty-handed,
None went back but full of wonder ;
Day by day they talked, astonished.

The Kings of the Reefs.

Of the tools to lessen labour,

Make their f^arden work as nothino-.

Talked about the little creature

Which, with ease, could slauj^hter armies

Of the foes of sleeping people.

Ever since, they called him Vusi.

Likewise talked anent the monkey,

Image base of basest humans ;

Wondered at his gait unsteady,

At his movements so amusing- ;

Called him by the name of Ngele,

From his rolling lurching motion.

Like canoe in stormy weather.

Like a skilful seaman sculling.

" You may wonder at the monkey,"

Said a chief from northern Viti,

Jealous of his country's honour.

To the people come to see it,

" l^ut in Thikombia's island,

There is e'en a greater marvel ;

'Tis the artful crab, the climl)cr.

Known In' name the Ungavule,*

Seen but once, \'ou ne'er forget ■ him.

All the ])('()})le on the island

Where he works liis lilllc wonders,

* Ungavuk', " BirK'is Ifttio."

The Kings of tlic Reefs.

With :isLonishnuMit regard liini,
Thoiigli they know lie's after pilfering.
Oft they stop to watch him climbinj^
To the top of tallest palm tree,
Where the cocoanut he pierces,

THE UNGAVDLE.

Drinks the milk, and drops the nut-shell
On the distant ground, to crack it.
Then to earth descending backwards,
Goes in haste to eat the kernel.
If the owners of the nut trees
Try to catch the thievish creature,

The Kings of the Reefs. 67

He is not afraid to fight them,

Throwing earth and stones, his weapons.

In his anger, at their faces.

So whene'er they want to conquer

Such a clever httle foeman.

Such a crusty Httle soldier.

Up the tree they let him clamber;

Then, behind him, one there follows,

Who midway around the nut tree

Wraps a rough and knotty grass band.

Which, the robber, when he touches.

On his downward passage backwards.

Takes to be the earth beneath him ;

And, his hold at once relaxing,

Falls some fifty spans or over

On the ground, where stunned he lieth,

Shaken by the shocking tumble,

Thus they trap him, thus they capture.

_cir

M M M I I» i MMHIW I | IWII IH I W I IIIMH I H g>Maa«mBU»».i»j.i..|-|.i..(r...>,.i..,...i.[.J: L )

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(S)>1E 0?;ME[f>ESS \]©WITE ^W,

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Ttv. -/x \.\. \/\. \/\/'3^

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>|c?rREATER than the foreign presents,
Greater than the crab, the cHmber,
In the eyes of all the natives.
Was the white-faced clever workman,
Working wdth his tools of magic.
Quick, he made them wooden pillows,
Flat and round of many patterns ;
Bowls, and handles for their adzes.
He would shape the posts for houses,
Help them build canoes and temples ;

Do a hundred things and useful,

In a fashion that astonished

All the artisans of Viti.

Daily, while he wrought among them,

Word by word he learnt their language.

For his work's sake, much they prized him,

Lodged him in the sacred temple.

Built in worshipful remembrance

The Kings of the Reefs. 69

Of Nailatikau the Chieftain.

Here the lonely nameless white man

Did his eating and his sleeping,

Did his thinking and his dreaming.

Here he thought of home in England,

Thought of boyish days and comrades,

Thought of brothers and of sisters,

Thought of father and of mother ;

Thought of how his mother led him

To the church in peaceful valley,

Where he heard sweet words and holy

Of the Christ, the World's Redeemer.

Thought of days of early manhood,

When beside him walked so gaily

One of agile step and graceful,

Not his mother nor his sister.

But another, — Where was that one ?

Then in utter desolation

He would leave the spirit-tcmplc

For the evening native gathering

In the. king's capacious dwelling ;

Where the ring of kava drinkers

Nightly drank the warming kava',

Nightly listened to the stories

Of the people's deeds and greatness,

Of the nation's gods and heroes,

The Kings of the Reefs.

Tolil lluMii hy lIk' ,i;rc;it Nd;iuv()s;i.

There the KngHsh tiir, delighted

Tales to tell them of adventure,

Tales of many lands and people,

Tales oi ships of war and commerce.

Bigger than the one at Koro.

" If you wait a little longer,"

Said he to his eager hearers.

Though his heart grew sick within him,

" You shall see those mighty vessels

Come from Britain's ports to fetch me. '

Thus he sought with his importance

To impress the fickle people,

Lest perchance they should despise him.

At the tales he told they wondered

More and more with greater wonder.

Till the Nation's Storymonger,

Jealous, lest he might be beaten

In the work of story-telling,

Tossed his head and hinted broadly

That however big the ships were

In the white man's mighty thinking,

They were simply just as nothing

When compared with ships of Viti ;

Only like the flying fishes

By the whale's enormous body.

The Kings of the Reefs. yi

Hearing which the chief, recovered

From the charm of foreign stories,

By Ndauvosa's pride of country.

By his love of Viti's honour,

Spake and praised the nation's minstrel,

Told him to unrol his story

Of the great canoe of heroes.

Then the Talker, much elated,

Clapped his hands with servile reverence,

Said, in answer to his chieftain :

" Heroes ! Nobles ! Men of Wilour !
Wonders never cease among us.
You have seen the stranger's vessel,
Or have heard the tales about her.
Now this white man in his boasting
Tells us greater ships arc coming.
But I ween, of all the vessels
He may tell us of, or show us.
None shall beat the one you wot of.
Built and sailed by Viti's heroes.
In the days when gods were sailors,
And the land was full of giants.
If with patience you will hear me,
I will now unfold the story,
Ordered by our lordly master.

ggsfedV

'^ss^^^si^

^WE 91?0jqSTEK ©T^jqOE.

"~^D^^

a-i ls)e O canoe before or after

Ever drew so many people,
Wondering how the monster ' Ebbtide'
Could be launched by gods and heroes.
All with one consent protested
They would never see her sailing,
She ashore would surely perish,
Rot on dr}^ land where they built her.
Thus again the wisdom proving
Of the ancient sage's proverb,

' Who of big canoes are owners,

Owners are of cares perplexing.'

* Nay,' replied her noble owner,

Said the great and princely ' Hightide,'

* Never thus shall be her story.
Go, Ndausoko, captain able.

Go with all your men and launch her.

The Kings of the Reefs. 73

Let us make a trip to Tonga.'

Then Ndausoko, prince of captains,

With his sailors tried to launch her,

But in vain was all their labour.

' Run and bring a troop of soldiers,'

Said the disappointed captain,

' Bring Kaikoso men to help us.'

Then with sailors and with soldiers.

Did they make a mighty effort ;

Not a fathom could they move her !

' Fetch the stalwart men of Ndawa,

Noted for their strength and valour ;

Men who oft have been in battle,

Oft have borne the brunt in fighting.

Oft have routed savage armies,

Oft have helped in launching vessels.'

When the soldiers, stout and lusty,

Came and threw their strength with others,

'Gainst the still canoe and stul)born,

'Now we'll do it,' said the master;

* Soldiers, sailors, all united.

At the signal lift the vessel.

Send her floating on the water.'

Then the leader gave the signal,

And the troops and seamen answered.

Threw the nation's strength against her.

74 The Kings of tlic Reefs.

Mii;ht\- jHisli and mighty failure !

W'horo tliev built her there she anchored.

Then the jM^ophcts wise, exultin^ej,

Uttered once again the ada.ge,

'Giant vessels, giant troubles!

Just as we predicted, is it ;

She will never take to water ;

Where they built her there she'll perish.

Wliy was ever ship so monstrous,

Built by human hands so skilful,

With no power on earth to launch her ? '

HE WHS ^Haj<lCHED,

®= lANT vessels, giant troubles !

Are the troubles then to beat us ?
'Never!' said the captain firmly,
* There is yet a hand to help us.
Potent in the time of weakness.
Go, report us to her owner.
Seek the hero Roko Ua ;
Tell him all our strength is useless.
His canoe will not obey us.
Will not answer to our pushing,
Makes us laughing-stock of prophets ! '

Then the messenger departed,

Found the Prince in peace abiding.

Living at his ease in quiet.

Calmly he received the message,

Calmly heard the evil tidings.

Then uprising in his calmness.

j5 Tiit^ Kings of the Reefs.

Princely ' Ilightide,' Roko Ua,
Stridod fortli with j;odlikc paces,
Sou2:ht liis noble ship, the * Kbbtidc,'
And with (^nc ij;i,i^antic effort,
One tremendous, steady pushing;
With his rio-ht hand, sent her rushing.
Bounding, splashing into water !
Next, her mast, which all about him
Could not raise upon their shoulders,
Forth he carried to the vessel ;
Stepped and reared it in position,
Stayed it firmly back and forward ;
High it rose above the hill tops.
Then the giant, gazing upward.
Told his people of the landscape,
Told them of the wondrous sea views
To be seen from topmast outlook.
All Ndreketi's fruitful region,
With its plains and winding rivers.
With its gardens, towns, and hamlets.
One, by climbing, might behold them,
All the islands near and distant ;
See the smoke at morn and even
From a thousand houses curling ;
See the fog banks in the valleys
Swept to seaward by the land breeze.

The Kings of the Reefs.

Or before the sea breeze driven.

His shall be the sight enchanting,

Who will carry up the halliards,

Pass them o'er the white-shell crescent ?

(^h\E ©WHMPIOJ^I ©I^IMI^EFi

'K'-J^'

tK 'T' 't' 'f- -K Y^ -K ^ 'K -t^^ ^'* 4'^ ^

<i©>'5^110 will do the work of climbiiif^ ?
> Who will caiT}' up the halliards?'
Said the matchless Roko Ua.
' Spearman, with the spear so pointed,
Bound about with coloured sinnet,
Come and try thy hand at climbing ;
Climb to see the reefs and islands.'
'I,' the spearman quickly answered,
' I the art of climbing know not.
Fighting is my proper calling.

In the battle you will hnd me

Equal to the toughest duty ;

Not afraid of bowiiien mighty.

Willing any ten to challenge ;

Let another do the climbing.'

Thus were tempted many others.

In the giant's playful manner;

Each protesting climbing was not

In the line of his profession.

The Kings of the Reefs. 79

Roko Ua then in earnest,

Knowing well his workmen's talents,

Ordered up a youthful hero.

Named in legend, * Bat-o'-topmast,'

From his agile climbing habits.

Up he sprang to do the climbing.

But his mother, quickly seeing,

With sarcastic words addressed him :

' Whither bound, my clumsy urchin,

Whither now, in thy ambition ?

Would'st thou claim the powers of manhood.

When as yet thou art a baby ?

See the signs upon thy body,

See the spots that mark thy childhood ;

'Tis the thoko,'*' none will doubt it.

Proving thou art but an infant ;

May it vanish at the topmast.'

Did she say it in her anger,

To deter him from the danger ?

Or, in mother's pride at seeing

Son so nimble and so clever.

Do the work that others dreaded ?

But the hero climber, heedless,

Losing quick his white hibiscus,

Threw the chiefly belt behind him,

* Thoko, a skin disease like the " yaws" of the WckI Indies. All I'ijiiin cliildipn havr if.

So The Kings of the Reefs.

Clasped the mast and climbed it nimbly,
As it were a cocoa palm tree ;
All the world beneath him wondering.
Da}- by day, till ten were counted,
Up he bore the rope with courage ;
Often cheering those who watched him
With his speeches and his singing.
Now the names of islands shouting.
As they rose before his vision ;
Or, anon, the storm describing,
Telling how it raged around them.
Thus in snatches he reported
How he fared, and what the outlook.

\ iifH'"" ,

-C{go&=-

<^%=

•*li»i*1

sg ara sag gig ^ ^ gig r

ifi Wi*1 r?f*i 3W1 Si*i E*l«i f

^%1

® ^'w^clx^ifi^t^^i^e)

^ROM jf bOFT.

IcKROM a clear exalted outlook
'>^ I behold Kauvandra's mountains,

Where Ndengei,* the god so mighty,
Dwells enshrined in sacred serpent.

^^ Here and there and o'er the islands,
Sweeps a storm of dreadful herccness.
All the pines of Rakiraki
Bend and fall like men in battle,
But our vessel does not feel it.
Far away at Kamba reaching.

There the wind destroys the fruit trees.

Seaward still at lone Muala,

There the storm-tossed ocean rollers

Leap the coral walls in fury ;

And ashore the men are lifted, ,

Borne along before the tempest.

Where the Eye-of-Dayf is setting,

♦ Ntlonf,'ci, " thf! serppnt-Rnil of Fiji."
Mala-ni-singa, lit., " Eye of-Diiy," Tlio Sun.

82 The Kings of the Reefs.

There I see renowned Yasawa,

With its islands big and Httle.

In tile noted chiefly island

j\Ianv nobles are assembled ;

'Tis the day of merr3--makinr]^.

But the blow their vessels scatters,

Drives the chiefs from festal pleasures,

Sweeps away the chiefly houses

And the huts of common people.

\Miere the Eye-of-Day upriseth,

Vuna meets my eye enchanted.

Far to northward wealthy jMbua

Looms to view when ope's the stormclouds,

With its sweetly smelling forests,

With its sandalwood of perfume.

While to windward, lo, Lakemba !

And, beyond, the Tonga Islands,

Where the vessel-foundering storm gods

Into mountains hurl the ocean !

Ply your sculling oars with vigour,

For to us the storm is nothing,

Though around it howls and blusters.

Fiercest gales are calms to heroes.

Scull away, you giant scullers !

Big ships live where small ones founder.

A chief's house, northern navitilevu.

©WERE HJ^D B^iCK.

>iiii^iiii». —

I^HEN the hero reached his highest,
And his heart with joy was beating,
Out the tidings loud he shouted,
Thrilhng all on deck with gladness.
' Here upon the staybands standing,
Lo, I pass the rope to hoist with ;
Say to moon and stars, so near me,
You to-day are now my comrades,
We will surely dine together.
You to-day your wealth shall give us,

Aid us with your mighty breezes.

Now, my heroes, hoist the sail up.'

Then, the mast with ease down-slipping.
In a trice on deck was standimr
Viti's brave and champion climber.
When the master gave the order.
Sail to hoist with strength united,
'Twas another disappointment.

The Kings of the Reefs.

But the giant, Roko Ua,
With his hand of power did it,
Hauled it home 'neath sacred cowries.
Then a hundred stahvart scullers.
With their oars so long and heav}^
Tried to move the monster vessel.
Bring her round to catch the breezes,
But the great canoe was stubborn.
Down a hundred more were lowered,
Then another and another ;
But 'twas as she had no rudder.
Then the rest to make a thousand,
But without the least impression
On the disobedient vessel ;
Still with fury flapped the matsail.
Whereupon uprose the giant,
Lifted from its place a rudder
With a thousand oars for steering,
Dropped it deftly in the water ;
When, behold, the vessel answered,
Caught the wind and clave the ocean.

"»'

When o'er sacred waters sailing,
Awful silence was the order ;
Careful also, every hero
That no shred of dress or victuals

86 The Kings of flic Rcc/s.

l'\^ll h'om hand or deck in water,

Lest the trip should be unlucky.

Neither on the roof of deckhouse,

Where were often many loungers,

Nor in cooler hold of vessel,

May they eat their food or touch it,

Lest the gods the deed should anger.

When the tropic bird above them

Showed his tail of bright red feathers,

Flapped his wings of blackness o'er them.

Every sailor did him homage,

Every chiefly head unturbaned.

So no mishap happened to them ;

Nothing by the sea was captured,

Save a black-skinned swine they valued ;

When the vessel lurched they lost it.

But to all well versed in omens,

This of fortune good was token.

Flying on before the breezes.

Soon they reached the Tonga kingdom.

Where, to do them princely honours.

Hosts of men swam out to greet them ;

Oh, the multitude of swimmers !

'Twas as if the Tonga nation

Swam to greet the kings of Viti,

Do their hero-giant homage.

The Kings of the Reefs. 87

When they saw themselves outnumbered
By their guests on board the vessel,
When ashore they could not lodge them,
How their hearts within them trembled.
Not a house for Roko Ua
Could be found in all the country,
Big enough to give him welcome.
So without he lay when resting.
When the burning sun rays smote him,
Ashy dryness scaled his body ;
When the rain came down in torrents
There, between his massy shoulders.
Lay a great lagoon of water.
Where the sailors went a-fishing.
Dived and pounced on giant oysters.
Caught the very fattest turtle.

When the day arrived for parting.
All the people, richly laden,
Came with food and princely presents
For the great and worthy stranger.
Twenty hundred swine were slaughtered,
Baked, and at his feet presented ;'
But the gift was insufficient,
Only what they called a mouLJiful !
All the native cloth they brought him,

88 The Kings of the Reefs.

Measured just ten tliousand fathoms;
But tlic \vlu')lo, when wrapt about liim,
Was, for such a giant, scanty.

Then the hero and his comrades,
From the friendly red men parting,
Homeward lied across the ocean,
Back to Viti came with gladness.
Gladness not to last for ever.

-q9^

•NS\

•/

fi SoiaD SWHIa[aEJ<I(§E,

""^t II t ^^'

OT for ever was their gladness,
For a trouble overtook them.
But the fire-brands dead arc burnini^,
And the songs in chiefly houses
Long have ceased, their singers slccjiing
So the talc I will not tell you
Till another kava-drinking,
And the clever white man witli us
Shall have told us greater wondrrs

Than from me you've heard with }nitience.

For the present, then, I've finished."

Here the chief and all his household

Cried, "Vinaka, Good! Vinaka ! "

And the white man said, "Vin;il<;i!"

To the black man's talc and (h.illcngc.

Said, "The nation's vStory-t(ll< r
Is no doubt a box of fables,

go The Kiiii^s of the Reefs.

And he makes tluMii sound like true ones,

Hut we cannot all believe them.

Was there ever here among you,

In the days of all your fathers,

Such a big canoe as that one ?

Or a giant-chief so mighty ?

In the view of wisest thinkers

Surely both the chief and vessel

Are but names for tide and nation.

Who, forsooth, is Roko Ua ?

Wliat the vessel Rongovoka ?

When }our sailors launch your vessels,

'Tis the high-tide helps them do it,

'Tis the mighty Koko Ua,

'Tis the poet's hero-giant ;

No canoe is launched without him.

W^hen your vessels slip to seaward,

From the creeks, and bays, and rivers,

With yourselves, and wealth, and children,

'Tis the ebb-tide, Rongovoka,

'Tis the tide out-going takes them.

So the vessel named the Ebb-tide

Is the nation, Viti, sailing

On her great commercial business,

On her inter-island traffic.

This is my interpretation

J
I

The Kings of the Reefs. cji

Of the Talker's ancient ficticMi ;

But his closing words astound nie

More than all his tales of giants.

For you see he wants to trap me

Into telling greater stories

Than his ancient masters told him,

Just when he has made you hungry

For the troubles and misfortunes

Of his great canoe and hero.

Nay, methinks, 'twere not respectful

To your honours here assembled.

If he has the tale within him,

Let him tell it well, and finish.

Then, perhaps, I will unravel

Secrets sleeping in my bosom.

Awful things the gods have shown me."

At the white man's explanation
Of Ndauvosa's ship and hero,
Laughter burst from chiefs and j^eojile.
For the}^ would not, could not sc;e it.
Roko Ua was a giant,
Rongovoka was his vessel.
But the white man's wise sugg(\sti()n
That the tale should be C()in|)lcted
Met with generrd a))pr(jb;ili()n ;

The Kiiii^s oj the Reefs.

Saved tlic stranijjcr nnicb annoyance ;
Pleased Naulivoii the chieftain,
Who, to gratify his courtiers,
Said, " To-morrow at our kava,

When yanggona bowls are cmj^ty,
We will hear Ndauvosa tell us
All about the monster vessel,
All about her hero owner,
All about their latest trouble."

i^Ssf^^^'^S^^S?

,^ "^ v^ >■^_l:^5<,_c>

KUI^k

>";;;^ HEN the morning's work had ended,
>Q<~ Pleasant midday bathing followed ;
Then the afternoon's siesta
Was indulged in by the people ;
Followed soon by recreation
Till the evening called them homeward.
Then the chiefs from healthful rambles
Round the margin of the island,
Or from sitting in the coolness
On the stony landing places,

Hastened to the palace gathering.

On the fl(jor, so soft and cosy,

Matted by the hand of woman,

There they watched the ka\a chewers

Chewing kava, for the brewing

Of the nation's drink, yanggona.

Sitting with them was the white man,

Thoughtful, watching well the process.

When the warming drink was ready

94 Tlic Kings of the Reefs.

Round 'iw.is jiassod in cup cnauK'Hcd
With a jiL\ir1\- luu- enamel,
Given tt) it l)y the licjuor.

15ut a slii\er cold and deathl\'
Shook from head to foot the white man,
When the drinking bout was o})ened.
When he saw the chieftain's kava
Poured in cup with no enamel ;
When he saw the drinker drain it,
Whirl it, spinning, on the matting.
Lo ! or did his eyes deceive him ?
'Twas a human skull and ghastly !

When the drinking all was over,
Great Naulivou the ruler
Bade the Talker tell his story
Promised on the last occasion,
Of the monster vessel's danger,
Of her strange and startling mishap.
Then at once all chatter ended,
Hushed was every sound in silence,
Opened every ear to listen ;
While Ndauvosa, much elated
With his master's high approval,
Thus began his evening's talking.

The Kings of the Reefs. 95

" Sirs and heroes, great and mighty,
Many things my mind is full of,
Tales, and legends, and traditions.
Fables, proverbs, stores of wisdom.
Handed to me by the fathers ;
Some of which 'twere well to tell you,
Did you not demand the vessel.
Yet perhaps no bigger story
Has a place in all our history
Than the one for this night's telling.
When I've told it, you will cheer me.
You will cry, ' Well done, Vinaka !'
'Tis your custom, 'tis your pleasure.
But to me, however pleasing
Always must be chiefly praises,
I would now another favour
Beg the noble lords to grant me ;
'Tis that if our stranger present,
Whom we all so highly value,
Cannot tell a tale more wondrous,
He shall not be fed and peUrd
As of late, by all, he has been."

'Twas a jest for all to laugh at,

Put them in a hapj^y humour.

But in jest is often earnest,

As in nutshell is th(« kernel,

The Kings of I lie Reefs.

When \\\c jcalous-mindcd sjKiik it.
Al the joke the chiefs cind white mcin
Laughed, to sliow they all were merry,
All in tune to hear the Talker.

,PY.

4 ¥ 1^

NCE again I have to tell you
Of the monster ship of Viti ;
How she was entrapped and rajHured
By a god of great resources —
By the giant god, Tanovo.
Chief Ratuva, of Kandavu,
Took it in his head to visit
Viti's giant Roko Ua.
M will go,' said he, 'and see him,

See the wonder of the islands ;

Tell him, ere I leave his country,

I am very poor in sinnet

For my temples and ni)- houses.

For my clubs and spears and vessels.'

Soon resolved and soon acromplished

Was Ratuva's bold adventure.

Soon he reached the giant's conntrN-,

The Kings of the Reefs.

Saw tlif 0,(1 ;nul told his eiTand,
W on his (a\\)ur .iiul his promise
C)t a i;\)odl\ stock of siniu't.
' Good is now xour comini; hitlicr,'
Said the great and mi<Thty sailor;
' Sinnet have we in abundance.
Since your small canoe would founder
If she took but half I give you,
With it I will send the princes,
Send them in a monster vessel,
^^'ith a sinking cargo for you.'
Then Ratuva farewell bade him,
Hoisted sail and made for Ono,
Where he rested and reported
To the hero chief, Tanovo.

f^^^^c?^

iS^jsa^

Dqmb witw \Boj^der,

■■■■i^iiii

iched the hero's vessel,
;®>!|<- I was every way conft)undccl
?ip At its strength and vast dimensions.
Come aboard ! ' the j^iant shouted.

^t^^^^^l When we got our vessel nearer,
.•2,^^?^,^rfe3|^ Quick to board her I attempted;

But, Sir, would you e'er believe it ?
Just a day the climbing took me.
And another day in walking
To the hero's quarters, midships,

Where I met a princely welcome

From the cheery god of seamen.

'Hast thou any news to tell us?'

Interrupted chief Tanovo.

' News,' said great Katuva ([uickly,

Wondering at Tanovo's coolness ;

' Nothing anywhere is talked of,

On the land and on the water,

lOO

The Kings of the Reefs.

r>y lIu- lulors and the people,
Save tlie hero .ind his liclics,
Save the broad and mii^ht}- vesscL
All who see her great dimensions
Do not ask for news, as you do,
But are still and dumb with wonder.'

. ..fL ,]li. . Ill, il.

.•I*. ..il>. .,lli, ..It. J,

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REKT ^WOLIGHT.

JESTED and refreshed, Ratuva
Left Tanovo to his thinking,
Sailed for Mbuturaki country.

©i^ To his land and wives and children.
Then the king of Ono pondered.
Thought and thought, and planned and plotted
If he could the vessel capture,
Make her owner's sons his prisoners.
Help her to discharge her cargo
Ere she reached her destination,

He would show the proudest hero

Ever known in all the islands,

Pride is not the source of power.

Strength is not a nation's safety —

Wisdom 'tis that makes for greatness.
As the time came near, and nearer,

For the vessel's j)romised coming.

Wise Tanovo rose, determined

He would die, or be its ca])tor.

102

The Kiiii^s of the Reefs.

Takiiii; down a water bottle —
Higj^cst luit-slu'll from a ]xilm-trcc,
'Twas a sliell for use of ,i;iants —
Off in pride he marched to fill it,
Sink it in the sea for water
iSleeded in the soup of princes,
For his coming guests, the heroes,
When he brings them back his prisoners.

I ■■^<?&'gfo'(Js'ijb*(?&-afc'efo'a&*g]b- .»f^-.it^ *

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®3 WEEN the island of Kandavu
And the isle of Vatulclc,
Down he droj)ped his water-bottle ;
But the depth was far too shallow
For its sinking and its fillini^-.
Turning thenee, he travelled eastward
Till between the roek of Solo
And the Kewa reef to northward
Once again he tried to sink it ;

But no deeper water finding,

Forth he went prospecting further.

By the isle of Ngau he sounded,

But no better fortune favoured.

Was he aye to be defeated ? •

Was he ne'er to hnd it deeper ?

Why were ocean deeps so shallow

Just when heroes' plots are deepest?

^4rt^t#H.o'^>H.'i

okossag.

•11^ ■ —

■^'"' '<|JOUTHWARD pressing then in earnest,

Till he stood betwixt Kandavu

c®lt And the island of Matuku ;

Here his face to northward turnin^',

'^fsM$J(>iy^k^^<$B^ Up he rose in wondrous stature.

On the mount of Neilanefila

Firm his right foot boldly planted,
While his left went plump on Ono,
Thus the ocean quite bestriding.
Would you know how great the distance

'Twixt the one foot and the other ?

In the morning at Matuku

Hoist your sail before the breezes,

Keep your vessel's prow for Ono,

Ask the gods the winds to give you,

Keep the foes of sailors from 3'ou,

Then at noon the Ono people

Will appear to give you greeting,

The Kings of the Reefs. lO;

Give you welcome to the country
Of their great and ancient Master.
Standing on the mountain island,
Striding, as I've said, the ocean,
Down he let the water bottle.
Leaving up above the surface
Half its mouth capacious, gaping.
Wondrous in his towering stature.
Wondrous in his chiefly patience,
There the giant hero waited.
Whilst the sea was inward pouring,
For surprises bound to follow.

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^:f

'^ lllLE the water rushed and tumbled
Throu,L;h the bottle's mouth extended,
Lo ! in sight appeared the vessel,
Roko Ua's ' Rongovoka.'
Wisely keeping well to windward
So to make the port more surely.
On and on, with pennants flying,
Came the greatest ship of Viti.
On and—' Now she's in the current,'

Said Tanovo, much rejoicing,

* Flowing to the water-bottle ! '

On and on the fated vessel

Passed, unheeding, through the opening

To the sea within the nut-shell.

Then the god the bottle lifted.

Threw it o'er his mighty shoulder,

Bore it back with glee to Ono.

In it, onward sailed, unresting.

The Kings of the Reefs. loy

That entrapped, unlucky vessel,

When she neared what seemed a mountain,

Which was but her prison boundary.

By the strength the gods imparted

For the moment of their peril,

Up her sail the sailors lifted.

Bore it where the steersman steered her,

Sail and helmsman changing places,

Which is always done in tacking.

Thus she 'scaped the dreadful danger.

.!««, ««""' I. * "*"'" P'i:"ii

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©OS-T, StlT ©OT 90R ©VER.

$|>|fFTER long and painful waiting,

'^^^ Wonder seized on Roko Ua,

^y. Why his sons delayed their coming;
So he sailed, his treasures hunting,
^^'^^''^■'^"'''^"''^5T'*i^''o^"'^ i^jailed on board his second vessel,

Noted for her speed in sailing,
Noted for the name he gave her—
Name of god, the ' Man-creator.'
Also, chief Ratuva, wondering
Why the sinnet so much needed

Came not at the time expected,

Made another trip to Ono,

Asked Tanovo had he seen it,

Seen the vessel and her princes.

' Me ? ' said great Tanovo archly.

* Nothing in these waters sailing,

Like the big canoe you mention.

Has of late displayed her streamers.'

The Kings of the Reefs. 109

Whilst the heroes were conversing,
Shouting sounded in the distance,
Like the noise of sailors lowering
Down the mighty sail to stow it.
Whereupon the chief, Ratuva,
Full of joy, went out to see her,
Greet her chiefs, so long expected
With the promised gift of sinnet.
' But,' said giant Roko Ua,
' I have not arrived with sinnet ;
I have come my vessel seeking.
Come, my sons and treasure hunting.'
Then Ratuva, answering, told him
They had never seen his vessel.

While the disappointed chieftains
Silent grew and sad, with thinking
Of the loss of lives and riches,
Loud a sound of many voices
Came from seaward on the breezes,
Woke the thinkers from their thinking.
O'er and o'er it was repeated,
'Twas the noise of seamen tacking.
' That's my vessel,' said the giant,
vSaid her owner, Roko Ua.
* 'Tis the shouting of her seamen !
Now my noble sons are coming ! '

no The Kiiii^s of tJw Reefs.

Inil upon ihc mighty ocean
W'hcresoc'cr he looked to sec it,
N\) canoe could he discover.
Then a pause and look of anger,
Followed hv the shout of sailors
Shoreward coming towards the landing.
But, though all the bay was open
Right before the searching lookers,
Not a mast, canoe, or sailor.
Anywhere appeared before them !
'Twas a puzzle most confounding.
Disappointed, sad and silent,
Sat the chieftains in the palace.
Pondering much upon the mystery.
Loud and clear again they heard it.
Heard the cry of seamen labouring.
Bringing in the missing vessel ;
But again the sound deceived them.
Still perplexed, the chiefs consulted
As to what might now be wisest,
Each his loss to make the best of.
Roko Ua, nothing daunted,
Forth would go, his lost ones seeking,
But would not offend Tanovo,
Who the princely soup had ordered
For his guest so great and mighty.

The Kings of the Reefs. m

By at once his vessel boarding,
Ere partaking of refreshment.
'Twere an insult most unchiefly,
'Twere a deadly sin to do it,
Were the host a friend or foeman.

When the bottle down was lifted
For the pouring of the water
For the seasoning of the pottage,
Out there shot the long lost vessel ;
Came the princes and the sinnet ;
Everything that great Tanovo
Had entrapped within the nut-shell !
'Twas a deed unmatched by heroes !

BtlK^T 9l^(^ER§.

--^i

Is OW, said patient Chief Ratuva,
Waiting for his precious sinnet,
* Let us hoist our sails together,
For the Port of Mbuturaki,
For the landing of the treasure,
And the feasting of its givers.'
But the wise heroic donor,
Having found his Rongovoka,
Like a child who burns his fingers

Onlv once, will guard them ever

From the flesh devouring fire-stick.

Did not, could not, would not see it,

' I am bound for Thombothombo,

For the land of chiefs and honour.

Leaving all whose art and learning

Deal in tricks and mean befooling,

To the waefcs of their meanness.

The Kings of the Reefs. ii_

Scheming is the weakhng's refuge ;
Honest might the fort of heroes.'

Now, my chieftains, I have ended,
Finished all the tale I promised ;
Told you of the ship and seamen
Known to men of ancient Viti.
I have done ; but not exhausted
Half of what there is to tell you.
As the old and true is musty,
And the new alone is asked for,
Let the stranger do your bidding ;
Let the white man tell you stories."

, n

(|)>1E \)i5wiTE @RlTie.

■^(SJP

cUS HEN the white man heard the challenge
>ii^ Of the old and cunning talker,

*^.® ® ©; © i@ €5® ®<f^

■. 4^^ -K^ %^\- '^ -f'^ 'T.

'Twas as if a bold knight-errant

Had removed his glove of iron,

Thrown upon the ground his gauntlet,

Dared him from the earth to pick it.

While he paused, the challenge pondering,

King Naulivou addressed him.

Bade him tell a rival story.

Then the thoughtful white man speaking.

Said, " My lords, your nation's minstrel

Is a clever little fellow.

You do well to cheer and praise him ;

Well to feed and house and pay him.

I have listened with attention

To his string of telling stories ;

I applaud and thank him for them.

But, before a tale I tell you,

The Kings of the Reefs, 1 1

I must ask him to excuse me,
If I give an explanation
Of his old and well-told leirend ;
Of the wondrous trap and capture,
Made by Ono's god Tanovo,
When the ocean he bestrided.
One foot on Matuku's mountain.
And the other foot on Ono.
Would that I and mine had known it,
When our ship came sailing inward,
Neath the great o'er spanning portal,
Through your land's colossal entrance ;
Then perhaps a man of learning
Would have told me all the meaning
Of Tanovo's monster bottle.
And the capture of the vessel ;
Would have told me that among you.
In the days when wisdom flourished,
There were very clever thinkers.
Thinking out a tidal theory.
How the high and low tides happened,
How the ocean they bestrided.
They agreed that mighty lierocs, ■
Like Tanovo, Chief of Ono,
Daily sending fortli their bottles
For the salty seasoning water —

ii6

The Kings of the Reefs.

W'luMi llic tides came inward rushing;-,

l^rin^ini;- wilh tlicni mighty vessels —

DaiK' made the Uiw-tide shallows

Which the great canoes imprisoned.

If I better knew your language

I would tell you all about it,

But my speech is slow and faulty."

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■ ..^^.. .

4- ^ -f- -T^- -T-

0^OTH the talkers are in error,"
§S>% Said a chieftain bold and warlike,

,^ Grave and stern in speech and manner.
Known to all as Chief Tanoa,

\ As the people's coming ruler,

When his elder brother, sailing,
Makes his last and solemn passage
In the great canoe for spirits
Wanted in the spirit islands.
"Wrong our poet, glib Ndauvosa;

Wrong the white-skinned, shark-eyed stranger.

All about the strange entrapping

Of the big and chiefly vessel

Makes a strange exciting storx',

Mixed with truth and much of iable.

Great Tanovo was a licit),

Concjuering foes and cainurin.L; \c;ss(;ls,

Causing kings to bring him tribute,

ii8

The Kings of tJic Reefs.

Pour llioir wealth in i;rc:it a])uii(lance,

On the \\ii\v Isle of Ono.

Just as we intend to conquer

All who wrongly may oppose us,

In the struggle, some are whispering,

Will be born of wily plotting.

Now afoot among our neighbours."

^5151 SlSTSlS'lS' LSI

^QSi^^

\jg)Wl(2W WHS I^iewT.

••■i<Oi""

>gf EASED the stern and thrcatennig warrior.

$» Spoke Ndauvosa, breakmg silence
pM Deep and awful while it lasted,
As, at times in peaceful village.
Is the quiet, ere the war-drum
Sounds its loud and doomful challenge.
Said he, "Be good-mindccl chieftains;
Speaking is the minstrel's Hccnce,
When thereto by chiefs he's summourd
Therefore, sufler one suggestion.

Tell the world, ye princely thinkers.

Of these new interpretations,

Which the wrong one, which the right one;

Or, if both alike be wrong t)nes.

As for me, it is my duty,

Stoutly, once for all, to say it,

Lest our stories be corrupted,

Great Tanovo was Tanovo,

120 The Kings of the Reefs.

(Vc>r tlic ocean wide bestriding.
Down he let tlie nut-shell bottle,
Fair he caught his rival's vessel !
These are legends of our country.
By explaining, we destroy them."
At his words, his ears were greeted
With a volley of " vinakas ! "
As, when sweetl}- singing songstress,
Singing in our land of music,
Sings, and wins the people's plaudits ;
Wins a shower of richest nosegays !

ili,t^^,;l;;I;,!;;l;;l;,;|-„t.;!;;t',4i^^U

*>.

'■^<^

©EWS.

mOi" —

<§>.^|tUST when cill the cheering ended,

^m^ Throu";h the open door there entered,

X®%. Uttering low his salutations,

-■^■&-, — >®vi^ One all breathless, wet, and wearv,

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^n^^Wii^^^Wf¥W^i^+"'^ With his travel, and his wading

• ..i.MWta rr,^^)-^(ui!>^« From the mainland, from Tailevu.

r*;

Sitting right before the presence

Of Naulivou, the ruler,

He was greeted with " Sa yandra "

By the master of the ])eople.
'Twas as when we say "Good morning!"
To a guest on his arrival.
"Good your coming is to see us!"
Then the messenger, the mata,
Told about the path he'd travelled ;
Told of pleasure and of danger
Met with, as he hastened onwards,
Bearing news of gravest inijiorl.
Then at last, all small talk dropping,

122 7//t' Kiiii^s of the Rccjs.

Said \\v : " 1 am \\vxc to tell \nv\

All the peopk- of Vorata

Busy are their food up-storin,i;'.

What their inoti\e, if not warlike?"

\\'hen he ceased his monarch asked him

What besides he had to tell them.

Whereupon the mata answered,

" Nothing, only that I'm weary.

Longing for the sleep that cheers us."

But the chieftain, all observant.

Read the mata's look and "nothing;"

Knew that in his strange omissions

There was some important secret

In the shrewd detective's keeping.

So at once he gave his orders :

" Let us each to sleep betake him.

For 'tis midnight, on to morning,"

Here the white man asked a favour,

'Twas that at the royal pleasure

All should gather on the morrow

On the green before the doorway

Of the sacred house he lived in.

" Then and there 1 will unravel,"

Said he, pale and anxious looking,

" Matters grave, and full of meaning

To the rulers of the island.

The Kings of the Reefs. 123

'Twill not be a tale competing
With the stories of your poets,
But a solemn revelation
Which should win your quick attention,
Make you wake from sleep and talking.
Stand like heroes, keen for action,
In your country's need and peril."
"Good! vinaka ! " said the ruler,
"On the morrow we will hear thee!"

When the. guests to sleep betook them,
When the palace hall was empty,
Then the mata sought his chieftain.
Told his true and weighty message.
Said, " My master well dismissed them.
Sent the sleepers to their sleeping,
That I might at once disburden
News of threatening war and trouble.
I have come in haste to tell you
That this very night the chieftains •
Of Verata, with their people.
All their towns are stoutly fencing
In defiance of our kingdom.
'Tis of war a declaration!"
Then the chief and servant parted.
Chief, to do his toilsome; waking,
Me that served to j^caceful sleeping.

-^^-^J, -<5»j;^?^

^ I^KaHT \9lSI0J<I§.

Lonely sought the rest he needed.

But no rest nor sleep approached him ;

Only weary painful thinking

Of events that gathered round him.

Oft, as slow the night crept onward,

Mournful thoughts found sad expression.

" Oh, that dreadful old Ndauvosa !
'j f ■- With his twice repeated challenge!

Doubtless, 'tis as plain as can be,
Soon of me the chiefs will weary.
If I cannot quite convince them,
I am not of order common.
Stale m}' works of art are growing,
Are, indeed, a nine days' wonder.
And my tales are nigh exhausted ;
Or, if not, 'tis no use telling
Stories which the nation's minstrel

The Kings of the Reefs. 12-

All eclipses with his legends
Old and startling, told with ardour
In the people's common parlance.
Oh, that cup — a skull so ghastly —
On the mat before me spinning !
To my heart 'tis loudly speaking
Of some doomful deed and savage.
Done by him who hurled it from him.
'Tis of danger certain presage,
Which 'twere well to wisely ponder.
What if I'm the chosen, victim
For an offering to the war god
Thangawalu ? who, they tell mc,
Has a brow of height enormous.
Eight long spans from nose to forelock,
Up it rises, grand and lofty !
In his name we have its measure.

Ah ! l)ut what the secret message
Brought by that bclatc^d mata ?
Who, like all his kith and Ivindrcd,
While the house was full of people
Did not half reveal his thinking;
Kept his weighty words lill inidniglu,
Till the listening tribes had \anishcd ;
Then unrolled them to his chicdain.

126

The Kings of tlw Reefs.

Who shall Icll inc, who unnivcl
What those awful words forbodcd ?
Was it plot of savage heathen,
That ina\- send me to their ovens?"

Thus the white man, sad and weary,
Talked in wild and fitful talking.
Through the sweltering night and dreary.
Then at last, o'ercome with worry.
Sleep began her healing mission ;
But for hours she fought a battle
With the wakeful soul within him.

'KEKMS.

HE queen of healers, nothing: daunted,
Thrice to dreamland fair she sent hini,
Thrice from dreamland back he hurried.
How he longed for druj^^s to soothe Inm!
Sleep, at last, her subject made him.
Nature's great physician concjuercHl,
With her salve of wondrous magic,
Poured upon him licjuid sweetness.
Till the sun, from out llu' (u-(-;ni,

Rose above the land of Kamba.
Then awaking, said he calmly,
"What a night of wakeful toiling!
But the sleep of early morning ,
Has recovered, has refreshed me.
Let me now recall m\' drcammg.
'Twas as if around me g;ilh<r<'(l

ijS TJic Kiiii^s of tJic Reefs.

Ouite a multitude of people,
On the ground all lowly sitting ;
\\"hile above them, mueh exalted,
There I sat, in eontemplation.
In the doorway of a temple.
Like a priest of Thangawalu,
( )r of some departed spirit
Worshipped by his faithful ehildren.
Thrice the dream itself repeated."

Then his matted doorway opening,
Lo I he saw 'twas broadest daylight.
Smoke from every thatch was rising,
And a thousand meals were ready,
Served on wooden trays or leafy,
Steaming hot and appetising,
In tlie houses of the people.

"What," said he, "to-day shall happen?

'Tis the day for chiefs and heroes

In a solemn band to gather

Here before my sacred dwelling,

Raised to Latikau, the chieftain.

To his brave departed spirit.

What a godsend is my dreaming !

This the day of its fulfilment.

It shall save me and defend me

The Kings of the Reefs.

129

In the time of hidden danger;
Help me more than all the legends
Of the dear old land I came from,
Were they on my memory writtcMi ! '

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>|<^ IlILE his thoughts found shape within him,
\\'hile he formed his plans for action,
To him came the chief's attendant,
Followed I)}' a serving woman
Bearing " breakfast for the white man,"
From the palace of the chieftain.
Then the messenger reported.
Told the message of his master ;
'Twas that, till the heat of noontide,
Men would bring from distant gardens
Yams and taro and bananas.
And in heated ovens bake them.
Then, at even, ere the sunset,
Offer to the white-faced stranger,
Who his secrets would unravel.

"Thank your master," said the white man,
"For his word so good and gracious;
Tell him, Mata, tell him clearly,

The Kings of the Reefs. 131

When before his face 3'ou're seated,
'Tis the gods will show the secrets,
Tell the matters grave and solemn.
I shall onl)' he the mouthpiece,
Only be the priest, the Mbete ;
So, whatever here ye bring me.
To the gods let all be offered."
Then the mata, quick returning.
Every word and more repeated ;
Told his chieftain how the white man
Spoke as if a god commanded.
Then the ruler sent his matas
To the clans around the island.
Ordering all to pile their offerings
Right before the Mausoleum,
There to see and hear the white man.

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HERE at eventide they gathered,
ij There they raised a mound of offerings,
Yams, and breadfruit, and bananas,
Fruit and fish, and sweetened puddings.
Cireat, unbounded, was their wonder,
When they saw the white man, pricst-hke,
Sitting at the temple doorway ;
He was clothed in native tapa,
While his bust was bare, and shining
J With the oil of his anointing.
Then with form the ancient spokesman
At his chief's command stepped forward,
Offered all the pile of victuals,
Saying, while he touched the offerings :
" To the gods and priest we give it.
Give this bit, this little morsel,
Quite ashamed 'tis not abundant.
Let the gods with grace accept it.

The Kings of the Reefs. 133

Speak, and give us words of comfort.
While the stranger dwells among us,
May we live in peace together.
And may all our dangers vanish."
**Mana! Ndina!" said the chieftains;
"May the prayer be truly answered!"

Here profoundest silence followed,
Neither king nor chieftains ])roke it.
Ever}' eye was on the white man,
Sitting there, absorbed with thinking.
See, where now he shakes and trembles !
Every nerve his muscles twitching.
Every limb in answer jerking;
Face distorted, wild and painful,
All the body in a tremor.
Shaken by the awful cjuaking.
See his reddened face and swollen !
See the veins are all but bursting !
Hear his awful groans and sobbing !
Hear his strange and lltful speeches.
" I, 'tis 1!" he oft repeats it.
Then to "We, 'tis we!" he chaiiges,
"Hear us! we, the gods, are speaking."

Then the people, breaking silence

134 ^^*^ Kings of the Reefs.

When tlu'\- could no longer kcc}) it,

Ci"\ in wonder, " Sec tlicni ! see them !

God and man are there together!"

Ncnv the demon-<j;overned white man

Speaks as moved by spirit powers :

" Black men plot a^^ainst their chieftain,

Says the spirit of the temple,

Says the spirit of your father.

Clubs and war, and blood and thunder,

Are before you in my seeing ;

White men mingle in the turmoil.

Fighting with new bows and arrows.

So beware your gods to honour,

And respect his faithful servant.

'Tis Nailatikau who says it,

'Tis his temple that I live in."

" jNIana ! Ndina ! Ndina ! Ndina !

Wondrous! True indeed and faithful!"

Shouted all the chiefs and heroes.

Thus the white man, by his dreaming,

And his clever imitations

Of the cunning priests of Viti,

Won again the people's favour,

Built a waning reputation

On the nation's superstition.

50i^ S^ i505 552

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laEEPg.

Sa OR a while the white man prospered ;
But the food and drink and ehmate,
And the oft repeated niadness
Of the priestly work and dut\-,
With the sight of deeds unsightly.
Wrought upon his nervous system,
Broke him down and laid him prostrate.

When at last he lay a-dying,
And his life past Hashed to memor}',
And the future rose before him,
Then lie spoke to those about him —
Those who eame in human kindness,
Moving even savage bosoms —
Thanked them for their chicll)- inamiers,
Told them how, when greatl)' frarmg
Lest their favour he should forfeit,
He assumed the priestly ofliee,

136 The Kiii^s oj the Hcvjs.

Took whal .!-;o(ls had iu>vcr ,i;i\(-'n,
1 olil what llu'\ liad nc\"tM" spoken,
Tliou,i;li no cloul)l llu'\ \l liiul his IclhnL;'
Was noi altt),L;cther falsehood,
As the days at liand would witness.
Now, howe\er, he was d\ing,
Passinj^' to the world of sjiirits,
One thin<;' true he had to tell them,
It his weakness would but let him.

Here the dyini;- white man faltered,
Swooned away in deathly stillness.
Then the natives, sitting round him,
Wondered what, if he could tell them,
Was the one thing true within him.

Bye-and-bye, his strength returning,
Once again he strove to say it,
Tell the thing that fired his spirit.
" 'Tis," said he in fitful efforts,
" That in Langi, in the heavens,
Lives the Father, God, that loves us.
You should know Him, you should serve Him.'

Then the white man ceased his speaking.
And the black but friendly watchers,
Watching for his latest breathing.

Tlie Kings of the Reefs. 137

Said, "Samothe!" "He is sleeping!"
So he was — the sleep that waking
Ne'er shall know, until the trumpet
Rouse with shattering blast the sleepers
To the great eternal waking.

Then the Mbauans in the death-mats
Wrapped the body of the white man,
Bore it to its place of resting,
Laid it in its grave in Mbau-land,
Often asking since they did it :

** What, we wonder, was the meaning
Of his last and dying message.
That in Langi, in the heavens.
Lives the God we ought to worship ?
Did he mean the Drondrodronlangi,
Did he mean the wondrous rainbow ?
Now he sleeps, who else shall tell us ?
Shall we ever see a white man
Who will let us know his meaning?"
Thus they questioned, thus they wondered.
Time will pass with lightning swiftness.
And events will be forgotten,
But the pious deed and ofhce
Done the lonely namek^ss whitcman,
Aye shall live in kind remembrance
Of his far-off British brothers.

•3.

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®s VER since the war-like message

Reached Nauhvou, the Chieftain,
Ever since the white man's speeches,
Spoken at the demon temple,
Sleep the Ruler's eyes abandoned.
Secret word of shrewd detective,
Open word of white man's madness,
Made him thou,i(htful in the daytime,
In the nighttime made him sleepless;

Kept him ever strictly watchful ;

Added to his a,f(itation,

Which he laboured hard to smother.

But at last, the gods awaking.
Moved great Nature's mighty forces.
To excite his thought to action !
Once in fiercest, broadest daylight,

The Kings of the Reefs. i3g

When his mind was greatly troubled,

Lo, the Eye-of-day withdrawing,

Hid behind a ball of blackness.

'Twas not mist, nor cloud, nor storm-rack.

Oldest living men remembered

No such time of gloom so awful.

Legends from the far back ages,

Could not bring to light such darkness

As appalled those Mbauan heroes.

And confounded all their people.

'Twas an omen h\^ and direful.

't>

Gone the blackness, came the tempest,
Came the cyclone sent by demons.
Sweeping everything before it ;
Damming up the streams and rivers
Far and near, around the mainland.
But the priests, with incantations.
Moved by offerings from the people.
Used their charms of hidden power.
Made the angered gods propitious,
Beat the tempest's fury quiet.
Stilled the ocean's raging billows.

Then the leaden sky descended,
Broke in awful sheets of water,

140

The Kings of the Reefs.

Floodctl h(Miu\s and ^nivos and i^ardcns.

'Twas as if the ijjods of \'iti

Had, in solemn consultation,

Set about the world's destruction ;

First, to fri.c^ht with awful darkness.

Then to scatter 1)\- the tcMiipest,

Then to cover with a deluge,

Drown what yet remained of promise.

'Twas a war which none might cope with,

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^^. P^-^s^^'^*^ g^lt TILL the Ruler, nothin<^ daunted,
m^ Kept his hand upon the steer-oar,
W^ Thoughts of past and present troubles,
§'p^^^z^/^.^7x^Jil'4: Sinking ship in Koro waters,
;;<^^W¥W¥¥'^W¥f¥: Angry shark, his prey pursuing,

Mata, bringing secret message,
White man's wild but timely cautions,
Sun's eclipse and doomful darkness,
Storms and floods of vengeful iur\-.
Every sign of deepest foulness
Worknig in the heart of treason,
Did nor daunt him nor discourage ;
Did not rob him of the keenness
Needed now to trace defection
In the minds of men around him ;
Bring to light their secret ])lotting,
Turn the plots against the plotters.
This he did with skill and Hrmncss.

14-

Thc Kiiii^s of iiic Reefs.

just when thc\', the d;irk assassins,
All their evil plots were hatchins;",
There, on ]\Ibauland's little island,
Where, before and since, so often
Deeds of blood and shameful doing,
Have the people's history blackened
With a blacker, deeper blackness
Than the blackest sun-eclipses,
He, with clever promptness captured,
Brought to death the leading rebels.

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@j<[iaY Scotched.

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^i^ERPENTS scotched may lod,<;c their poison

^>®J^

ciii In their foes, too near approach in.L;-.

So, though snakes of deadly venom,

Do not harbour in tliese ishmds,

Yet in time of plots and plotting;,

Such as now annoyed the Chieftain.

Snakes there were, could sting with vengeance,

When Naulivou with boldness,

Slew his would-be vile assassins,

Men with whom the secret rested,

Seeing what befel their fellows,

Fled, and joined the rival kingdom ;

Found a refuge in Verata,

Where the heat of wild ambition.

Kindled every war-like passion.

Burst in flames of blood-red ravage.

Through it all the Mbauan hero

144

The Kiiii^s oj I lie Reefs.

Bravcl\- toui;ht, in douhtful lis^litinc;.
Now tlic i;(^ds appeared to favour,
Then anon, to work against him.
Fickle were they then and ever ;
Why, he could not iind the reason.

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^I^HILE the prospect loomed before him,

tC#>2

^'§^ Grim and sullen, black and stormful,
^®^ He his spirit oft would (piestion :
''Shall I ever join the fragments

Of this many-kingdom countr}' ?
Oh, that now the absent white man
Were alive with words of wisdom ;
Or, with words of joy, to tell me
Of the coming of his kinsmen ;
When I might, with friendl)- barter,
Gain some tools and other riches,
Which would buy me tribes of allies,
For the con([uest of the rebels ;
Or, if fortune would but favour.
In reply to charms effective,
Which my fathers found successful,
When in faith they used them wisely.
Ere they ever went a-begging,

146 Tiic Ki)ii;s of the Reefs.

1 might i;et the retl-faci'd c:iptain,
Master of the HoatiiiL^-island,
As a fa\oui- j^reat, to ,i;ive me
One of his most strikiiii^ wonders,
Like the one with skill he handled.
When at Koro, gods inspired him.
How the wonder pierced the nut-shell,
Out upon the distant coral,
!Man\- fathoms from the vessel !
Even so 'twould pierce the foeman,
Ere his spear were poised for throwing.
Such a weapon soon would end it,
Stop the strife and crown me master."

Thus the chief gave way to dreaming.
Yet he fought with desperation,
Led his forces forth to battle.
Armed with old and clumsy weapons,
Clubs of many shapes and deadly ;
Kolos, ngatus, totokias ;
Clubs for throwing and for wielding.
Small and large and light and heav\-.
Spearmen, too, he led in numbers ;
Tall, and fierce and fearless fighters.
Poising spears of many patterns,
Carved and twined around with sinnet ;

The Kings of the Reefs.

147

Single, trident-pointed spears,

Or with many points to pierce with,

Points of wood or bone of ray-fish.

Woe to all who who felt their sharpness !

'Q2,:fj^

p)?;R[£>EY.

^^fJItT^

ffte HEN before the foeman's stronghold
^ These appeared with war-Hke courage,
How opponents loved to banter,
Tease and rall}^ one another !
Dance, gesticulate and threaten ;
Though at most respectful distance !
Speaking often words derisive.
They on this wise long would parley :
'* Oft you've told us you were coming,

In such great and crushing numbers !

Now 3'OuVe here 'tis fun to see you !

Just a handful for our ovens."

Then to these the others answering,

" Say you, courage is your stronghold ?

Come along then ; come and try it !

We are dying for your coming!"

All such silly talk and boasting.

The Kings of the Reefs.

149

Only made a show of courage ;

Tickled ears, whose owners trembling,

Found relief from thoughts of battle,

In the laughter and the chatter,

Of the light and trilling jokers.

But the heroes true, they moved not,

Save to meet and slay the boasters.

Win their bodies for the ovens.

Which the gods and priests had promised

Should be filled with food delicious,

Flesh of conquered, sweet to victors

Hungering, more and more, for carnage.

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>|cf FTER many moons of fighting,

cU^ J-jold rebellion seemed to flourish.
' ""^ Needed most by Mbau were numbers.
^?.i<k Brains she had, but bones and sinews

^^^ ^ ^. ^. , _.. , ty'e C: ©C"

;^tj^-r;tr;v^i.'ti.-ir'i'r'+-'4.''i--+-t{,-'>^ \ V ere her lealous loe s possession.
oi'>^^,^(|f^cr,v^ So the war proceeded slowly.

c/c|,g|»^ But the Mbauan hero leader,

fSet his heart on winning Rewa ;
With her plains in food abounding.
With her thickl}' peopled deltas.
With her brave and well-trained armies,
No ally could better aid him.
Much he longed for white man's vessel,
Once again the isles to visit.
True to gods, he took them offerings,
Built and renovated temples ;
Bought the priests and won their blessing. •
Then for heavy crops he planted ;

The Kings of the Reefs,

151

Waited till the yams should ripen,
Ere a fresh campaign he opened ;
Hoping' then to end the trouble,
Bring his foes before him cringing.
Crawling to him in submission.
Tact has often beaten numbers ;
Often foiled the darkest plotters ;
Often saved a nation's honour.
So the Mbauan hero tried it.

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'HE fI?IDJ<IieHT ©T^CKIaER.

■ ■ ■J8g> '^. ■ ■

HEN the 3^aiTis are all exhausted,
And the season for the new ones
Must be waited for with patience ;
When the taro and the via.
When the scanty garden produce,
I'^ails to satisfy tlic hungry,
Fighting flags, and foes grow wear}" ;
Armies rest, retreat and ponder ;
Watch and criticise each other ;
Till, when some unrestful spearman.

Dying of the pain of waiting.

Dashes from behind the reed-grass.

Kills a swine all unprotected.

Or, perchance a child, or woman

Catching fish, or fetching water ;

Then to arms the men, insulted,

Rise to deal the blow of vengeance.

The Kings of the Reefs. 153

Though such acts in Viti's warfare,
Oft have led to endless quarrels,
'Twas not these aroused the Mbauans.
They are men of chief-like spirit.
Often waiting after insult
For the gods to give them orders.
" Nature's voices," said the chieftain,
Bold Naulivou, the leader,
" Once again are calling to us.
Voices, from the mighty spirits
Clothed upon with forms familiar,
Summon us once more to battle.
Have we not all surely heard them.
Heard the fowls at midnight cackling.
Making noises, which a hero^
Knows, are clearly telling statesmen
That the time is swiftly coming,
When the war drum's thump and thunder,
Must the foe to action startle,
Must in double speeches warn him.
Must in echoing voices tell him,
We will meet him in the conflict ;
Meet him, but to see and conquer ! "

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)|av Hl^X the yams were ripe for di.u^c^ing,
Cjreat Naulivou selected
All the best and finest tubers,
x\s a chieti}- iirst-fruits offering,
To the god, great Thangawalu,
To the Master of the temple.
Then the Head of each Yaviisa,'^
Followed well the Chief's example.
]\Tbauan gods had hardly ever.
In such princely way been treated.

One by one the sacred temples.

New, or lately put in order.

To the gods were consecrated.

Such a wondrous feast of fat things,

Never whetted priestly hunger.

As on that great festal morning.

Well-baked yams were piled in thousands,

* Yavusa, " Clan."

The Kings of the Reefs.

Kingly turtles laid around them,
Countless sweetened taro-puddings,
Served in leaves of green banana,
Covered all the mound of victuals.
Ranged about were giant oysters,
Like a war-fence round a village.
Last, but not the least, yanggona.
Drink of gods and priests and heroes.
All the gifts the priests accepted,
To propitiate the spirits.
Thanking graciously the givers ;
But on every warring rebel.
Pouring all their rage and venom.

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\)OoRDg j<ioT ©eed;

c.^ EMPLE rites and feastins^ over,
!f:^ Far and near went forth the edict
Of the great commanding chieftain,

•^E r^. ;^ ^- 1 ® ® e; © <^ ® ®. '®.c.

That upon the day appointed,
if^ Every fighting man should meet him.
Pass in full review before him,
Stand and make his declaration.
Swear by most emphatic swearing,
He would ne'er desert his standard.
To a man they all obeyed him.

Each before the king appearing,

Painted red and black grotesquely,

With a head of hair enormous,

With his teeth of ivory gleaming

In their clear and m.atchless whiteness.

Each in his own way and language

Told his patriotic feelings,

And his true and leal intentions.

The Kings of the Reefs. 157

'Mid the people's acclamations,
'Mid their laughter and excitement.
One would thus, his club upraising.
Pointing towards the rebel country :
"Now I'm ready! Here's the physic
For the sick one over yonder !"
Then a second : " Sire and heroes,
Me you know not, but your foes will,
'Ere the war drum sounds to-morrow."
Forth another, stalking proudly
From his clan, before his chieftain,
Says, with attitude expressive :
"Oh, my master, I am dying
For a chance to see the rebels."
While his fellow, (|uickly following,
With his right hand out extended
Towards the cloud of smoke, ascending
As a challenge Ijold and threatening
From the rebel mainland wartown,
Walks in silence stern and scorn iul,
Which no language can interpret,
But whose meaning chiefs and people
Catch, as by an inspiration
From the si)irits of tlicir fiLlu-rs,
And at once api)lau(l him londl)'
With their language and llicir slmunng.

i^S The Kings of the Reefs.

"Good, vinaka ! Bravo! Bravo!"
On and on, come owl tlic boasters,
Growing more and more excited ;
Each one vicing with liis comrade
In the empty work of boasting.
In the solemn act of swearing.
Each one with a hero's valour,
While the foe at distance keepeth ;
Telling what, when blows, not talking.
Shall the order be of battle,
He will do, and how he'll do it.
To retrieve his country's honour,
And extend his chief's dominion.
" Here's my club, to-day 'tis shining,
Polished up with oil and scented ;
But to-morrow you will see it
Reeking with the blood of foemen !"
Said a youth, his head up tossing,
And his eye of anger glancing
Towards the land of chiefs, defiant.
Said another, spear extending,
And a ponderous club upholding:
"If the spear I poise should fail me.
This," his club o'er head round whirling,
" Shall some stalwart boaster finish,
Break his teeth and end his boasting."

The Kings of the Reefs. 159

Then a man, with words sarcastic,
Would the ancients humbly question :
" Tell me plainly, tell me quickly,
Who are they we go to conquer
On the morrow's battle morning ?
Are they gods or men, my fathers ?"
" Men, young man, and strictly human ;
Gods of note do not inspire them."
Whereupon the man emboldened,
Quick at repartee, made answer :
" Men are we, and quite as human,
Men 'gainst men is fairest hghting ;
But if on our side the right is.
Then our manhood will be mighty.
Right is might, though gods inspire not.
We shall prove them only weaklings."

Even wise old Nestors relished
Solemn fun, to cheer the soldiers ;
Joined, themselves, in boastful talking,
To convince their listening ruler
Of their true and constant service.
" Who are they in yonder war town
Answer, "Women, only women!
Men were there, but all arc; buried,
Gone, and long ago forgotten ;

i6o The Kings of the Reefs.

ll.nini;- passed wliorc \\cxo lighters
Dwell willi brave and kindred spirits;
So the mighty coming contest
\\"ill he waged with helpless women."
Here a warrior bold, unspeaking,
Talking of the host unconciuercd,
Archly tells the coward's proverb :
" ' 'Tis a joke to flee, but often
Death to hold your own in fighting.'
Foes of ours will do this joking,
We shall die, but in our dying
We shall live, our nation living."

Using sea terms, like a sailor,
Yet another does his swearing;
Plunging in the earth his spearhead,
Shouts, amid abundant plaudits :
" There, my noble lord and master,
See the anchor of the nation."

"''^^^'

f^ESTIJ^IP^ ^EJ^TE.

— i»...iiii^ —

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FTER all the flood of talking,
Active measures quickly followed,
Bellicose, but free from danger,
Save for them, the few, whose dut\'
Forced them, with their chieftain's orders
To the foeman's dreadful cjuarters.
From the one side to the other
Men were going oft, and coming,
Bearing much vexatious banter,

Hard for mortals proud to swallow ;

Bearing taunts and words ironic.

Brooked by none but men heroic.

Foe would say to foe whose stronghold

Human hands could scarce make stronger :

" Up, and strengthen now your fences,

Make them higher, build them skyward !

We are few, but gods are mighty!"

Oft by night the drum's loud beating

i62 The Kings of the Reefs.

W'oukl the fears of foes awaken,

And by day some sign or symbol

Sent, or given, roused the passions

Of the men who knew its meaning.

To the chief his soul most hated,

One would send the heads of palmtrees,

Have them waved from neighbouring hilltop,

Saying, by the act of waving,

That he longed for heads as many.

After all this preparation.
Feasting, building temples, threatening,
Swearing in the common soldiers.
Swearing in their chiefly leaders ;
^Making, ornamenting weapons ;
One would think to-morrow's dawning
Would the war's great business witness.
Not, however, thus so swiftly,
Viti pushes on her warfare.
"By and bye," and "Wait a bit," are
Canons wise and safe for mortals.
As for all their spirit-masters.
And in Viti, men and chieftains,
Gods and priests, and bravest heroes.
Keep them with a sacred keeping.

iJME ^EQTRKkS.

' "'57iS)aJf=' " '

'0Mt N the old and tribal conflicts,

^SS Chiefs had other things to conquer

Than the man of arms in battle.
lis They had first to wage a warfare

For the neutral tribes around them.
Not with clubs, and spears, and arrows,
Would they urge for their alliance,
But with many weighty presents,
Many tempting baits of promise.
Each of two contending chieftains

Strongly tempted all the wavering

To the standard that was destined,

If but true were party prophets,

Soon to wave on sea and island.

Monster bales of choicest clothing,

Monster balls of best made sinnet.

Swift canoes for sea and river.

Salt from Mba and mats from Mbua ;

164 The Kings of the Reefs.

Anythiiii; thai cliicfs could cajiturc,

Beg or get In- lutncst barter,

Or, by birth-rij^ht, put their hands on,

Went to buy a neutral chieftain.

With his brave and stalwart lighters.

Albau in wealth was no mean city ;

So her monarch, with his riches,

Courted mighty tribes around him.

For the dreadful coming struggle ;

But his work was hard and doubtful.

Just at this distressing crisis,

When the sides their clubs were sending

Each to other, with the message :

" Clubs we send you, know the meaning,

'Tis that we with speed will follow !"

Lo, the Mbauan hero's fortunes

Changed, and strangely altered all things,

And the word the dying white man

Spake, w^hile yet his strength did let him,

Found a true interpretation,

Found a great and strange fulfilment.

\]9>i?\T ^WIP?

D^'

®° HAT canoe is yonder coming,

Coming there from Moturiki?"
Asked the chief of those around him.
Answered all, but no one knowing,
For to know were not respectful,
In the presence of their chieftain.
Only this they said in answer :
"What canoe is that ? Perhajxs, sir,
You will know her by her streamers,

You will tell her by her sailing."

"Yes, I know her," said the ruler,

"'Tis our swift canoe from Nairai."

Seldom was the chief mistaken.

Seldom did his eye deceive him.

'Twas the swift canoe from Nairai,

Bringing news and men not dreamt of.

Save in dreams of nameless white man.

1 66 Till' Kiiii^s of the Reefs.

When [he prinrclx- ca]it;iin landc^d,
lie i'c\^oY\.cd to his master;
There, upon tlie stony hmdin;::^,
Told the historx' of the voyage.
Also, told the tlirillin,!;- story
Of the wreck of forei<j;n vessel,
Found on Nairai's reef of coral ;
And of white men he was bringing,
At their own request respectful,
For his lordship's full protection.
"Sire," said he, ''with leave I'll land them,
They will tell you they are brothers
Of the chieftain of the big ship.
Seen by Mbauan chiefs at Koro ;
Brothers four of him, " the absent,"*
Whose remains to-day are with us."
Then the chief, his orders giving,
Sent his men to land the strangers.
While himself proceeded homeward,
That he might in chiefiy fashion,
See and hear the white man's brothers.
When they should appear before him.

* " The absent," the dead.

'«^

J^ If EW Sow Km yf R.ROW.

<®>J:HEN the new arrivals landed,

And before the King were seated,

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Silence was the primal ,i;reeting

On the one part and the other,

As if host and guest were wondering

What had brought them thus together.

Then the leading white man, speaking,

Told the story of their coming

j, To the land of chiefs and nobles.

Then he showed the wondrous weapon

Carried l)y himself and comrades ;

Saying by his words and actions :

'"Tis a bow both new and might}-,

With a deadly arrow in it.

h^rom its mouth the liery demon;

Bearing deatli witli h'ghtning swiftness,

Klies, and slays the bravest heroes,

in the moment when the\ 're thinkin'-'

i68 The Kin^s of the Reefs.

\ourc afaid to inaicli and meet tlicni !
Onl\- wliitc nuMi know to lire it ;
But in time tlie chiefs of Mbauland
May, like white men, deftly use it."
Here the ruler's face grew brighter,
Hope revived, and heart took courage.
"Now," said he, "I'll drive the rebel
From the held and from the stronghold !
Now his hosts shall flee before us.
As the children, screaming, scampered,
When to-day they saw the strangers.
White men," said he, turning to them,
" Good your coming is to see us ;
You are welcome to our island.
Welcome here to live among us,
Where your kinsman brave is buried.
You shall be our friends and helpers
In our arts of peace and fighting.
We will call you Vavalangi,*
For you come from where the ocean
Carries on its back the heavens.
Welcome, for the gods have sent you,
In the nation's need and crisis."

Yavalangi may mean " the bearer of the heavens," but the etjmology is very doultful.

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ORTHWITH went the kingly orders:
m^ "Let the friendly tribes around us
®'|| Know the white men are among us.
.s^s^^^sJM Let the foe the news dishearten ;
^%^Hpp'W¥TW?5?f^>i^ Let the nations know our gladness,

Beat the drums in lusty manner,
For to-day we rise in power.
Bale the water from our vessel,
See her buoyant on the ocean.
Mbau shall yet the kingdoms coiujuer,
Bind them into empire mighty."
Once again the people shouted.
Cheered as if a god had spoken.

Then the biggest drums in Albauland
Thumi)ed and thundered forth their s]H:cches,
Rolled their peals fir out to sen ward,
Rolled them landward to llic inoiiuLains,

I/O

The Kings of the Reefs.

Toki to friends of comini; coiKjucst,
Told to foes of deatli and slauj^hter.
When thev eeased their direful voices,
Spoke a,<;ain the Kin_i;-, ehited ;
Said lie, turning;- to his nobles:
" Bv the timely help of white men,
I)V the sharpness of their arrows,
Winged with hre instead of feathers.
We'll reduce our foes to nothing,
Strand them, as the whale was stranded
On the ugly reef patch yonder,
I)urin,2j recent stormy weather."

RiaMP>iWT.

^ OR was this but shallow boasting,
Empty talk with nothing in it.
Soon b}^ deeds he kept his promise,
Soon the foe was made acquainted
With the bow of death and fire-flame.
In the war with stern Verata,
Mbau established her dominion,
Conquered all the rebel chieftains,
Made the name of white man dreadful,

Won again her title, God-land ;

And, by rumours of her conquests,

By the news of how her heroes.

On their war canoes returning.

Shouted, sang, and blew their trumpets,

Waved their palm-fans high in triumph,

How they, on the sacred island.

Feasted, danced, and madly revelled,

In the revelry of demons,

Filled the isles with fear and trembling,

Shook the nations like an eart]i(|uake.

\)9wiTE ^1\VT\(3E:

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>©^Bx\U was saved throuo'h savage white men
c#^ Led b}' one whose name was Savage ;
^1'^ Savage he, and they together,

^,>.|^ Blacker than the men they fought for

^r¥¥¥W^m"^^'^^ Blacker than the scores they murdered

■r.

^Cyj^'^^, l^

In the time of shameful slaughter.
When no legal eye was on them ;
For, as yet, Britannia's war ships,
Bearing laws and guns and powder,
Bearing men that hate oppression.
And for every heartless tyrant
Streams of fire and bolts of thunder.
Had not ploughed these reefy waters.
Had they, no such deeds of darkness
Could have blackened Viti's story.

Where those demon wretches came from,
Let no history e'er record it,

The Kings of the Reefs. 173

Let no poet ever sing it,
Let the truth in silence perish.
They were not the noble children
Noble lands have ever honoured,
But have always execrated.
Therefore, let their memory perish,
As themselves did, most ignol)ly ;
How, 'tis well the tale be told us.

After many fights and dangers.
Savage and his base companions
Tempted other whites to join them
In the work of lust and murder ;
And, ere long, they reaped the harvest
Of their own abundant sowing.
From the wind they raised, a whirlwind
Blew, and swept them madly with it
To the place that was assigned them
By the law of moral purchase.
They were trading, feasting, lighting.
On the Great-land, when around them
Rose and roared the Hames of jxigan
Wrath, and hate, and superstition ;
As the ocean billow rises,
Roars in storms against the coral
Walls that gird with strength the islands.

174 ^^^^ Khigs of the Reefs.

Tiil)es o( demons, such as they were,
Though of different skin and language,
Rose, surrounded, surged against them,
Rushed them, dragged them to the ovens,
Ate their flesh and cursed their memory,
Turned their skulls to drinking vessels,
Made their leg-bones into needles.
Which for many years thereafter
Sewed together miles of mat-sails
For the swift canoes of heroes.
\\'ould that this had kept for ever
White-skinned blacks away from settling
In the midst of dark-skinned heathen !
Then the blot in time had vanished,
And the wicked deeds that made it
Had ere this been quite forgotten
In the deeds of men and women
Who, to bless and save the black man.
Reared a Christian faith and commerce,
In his isles of matchless beauty,
Left their homes and hearths and country.
Then, a synonym for honour
Had been, ever, name of whiteman
With the simple-minded people.
But in time there came another
And another so-called god-ship,

The Kings of the Reefs.

From whose decks escaped the lawless,
Soon themselves a law becoming
To themselves for nought but evil,
And a scorpion scourge to others.

In the legends of the races
Who received and paid them homage.
As of gods they were the oftspring,
But who, when their eyes were opened.
Saw they were but only human,
And at last, not men, but devils.
They are ranked with beasts most bestial,
Lowest of the low and vilest,
E'en the cruel, degraded heathen.
Being self-appointed judges.

{(^ ^mmU -J "^ !^ [^ ..a)^^

/? ^EIIO /?J<ieE§TOR.

'M&><gm&^r^

• ^g^^ •

'^ ACK in times beyond all counting
Lived a hero-god of Rewa,
Wondrous in his mien and manner,
Wondrous in his strength and wisdom.
When the wind was high and boisterous
He would drink it like the water ;
Draw it in and calm the ocean !
Many strange and mighty wonders
Wrought he with his arts of mystery ;

But of all his god-like doings,

One alone his name from dying

Keeps, and deifies and honours.

Gods and heroes tried their fortunes,

Fought, but lost with shame the battle,

But the hero-god of Rewa

Fought, and won a splendid victory,

Won the hand of lovely goddess.

The Kings of the Reefs. lyy

Living on the mighty river,
He in boating aye dehghted.
Oft his own canoe he paddled,
With his favourite well-cut paddles.
Cut by chiefly clever workmen
From the noble vesi* forests.
Up and down the stream majestic
He was known, the noblest hero
'Mong the great and lordly princes.
" Caring nought for sailing vessels,"
Said he to himself when thinking,
" I will venture with my paddles
For the shores of queenly Vuya,
Where the goddess has her dwelling."
" Sure," he thought, his heart up-checring,
" Though the way is long and stormy.
Yet I'll bridge the sea to Vuya,
With the bridge of careful rowing ;
In my river craft I'll venture ;
All alone I'll ply my paddles."

So in far back years he started,
Left his home in times forgotten.
Save in legends bards delight in.
E'en to-day his watching people

Vesi (Afzelifi hijiuja, A. Gray), a valuable liardwood WVv tlie ({reenhoart of India.

17b

Tilt K lilies of the Reefs.

Sec him down the river rowing,
Hear his paddle smartly paddling,
Hear him sing to elieer liis spirits.
I lark I his song on Rcwa's waters
Still comes rippling clearly to us,
With the music of the river.

I§ @OJ<IG.

Il^llln-

ROM the East the breeze is blowins;,
Softly blowing, gently blowing,
In its daily airy pathway ;
Blowing fair for Vuya's gardens,
For its leaping, laughing waters,
For its home of lovely goddess.
While the tide is outward flowing,
I will paddle, onward paddle.

" Kiplit l)efore me onward stretehes
Screw-pine country, always sacred.
For the screw-})ines growing on it.
For its fruit of deepest yellow,
For the roots the trunks su})))orting.
For the snaky gods beneath them.
While the tide is outward flowing,
I will paddle, onward paddle.

iSo The Kings of the Reefs.

" Now tlu' rixi'i" broadens, forward,
Now il ojHMis wid(.' boforc nic,
N\>w il II0WS in strongest current.
Lo ! where looms away to seaward,
Pumice-isle, well known to sailors,
And the isle-of-work to leeward.
While the tide is outward flowing,
I will paddle, onward paddle.

"On and on I've paddled stoutly,
Till I've reached the mighty portals
Opening out from bay to ocean ;
Where the wind, the rollers lifting.
Curves their crests in threatening aspect ;
But with one great gulp I'll swallow.
Drink the wind and calm the waters.
While the tide is outward flowing,
I will paddle, onward paddle.

** Right across the sea I've paddled;
Passing Naselai and Kamba ;
Leaving Ovalau behind me ;
Travelled northward, straight to X'uya,
Where before me, now behold them,
Sight to ravish gods and mortals,
See the dashing falls of water.

The Kings of the Reefs. i8i

Falls where daily bathes the ,<j;;oddess,
With her retinue of maidens !
While the tide is landward liowing,
I will paddle, onward paddle.

" Here I'll land and try my fortune,
Where so many heroes, wooing,
Wooed with unsuccessful wooing."
Then the hero-rower, stopping,
Both at once, his song and paddle,
Rose to pole his skiff, and beach it
On the sandy beach of Vuya.

In her palace sat the goddess,
On her scarlet feathered matting,
When the sound of paddles reached her !
" Lily-blossom," said the lady,
Speaking to her waiting maiden,
"What canoe is that arriving?
Run and see, and tell me ciuickl}-.''
When the maiden saw the chieitain.
Looked upon his noble bearing,
Lo, she bit her dainty hngers,
Shook them wildly in amazenuMit ;
Cla})pe(l her hands in frantic, wonder;
Saying, " Hail, tlnni lord of kiii,L;doms !"

1 82 The I\!fi<rs of the Reefs.

W'hcw-upon iho rtnvcr answered,

'' 1 shall lluMi \)c cvowuvd the nionarcli

C)f tin's i^rcat and charniini;' country !"

Not a single monient waiting,

Back the maiden ran to tell it,

Tell the word of startling magic.

Hearing which, the goddess, thoughtful,

Hastened in licr woman's caution.

First to question, ere she greeted.

" Whence art thou, and what thy country ?"

" Large and wealthy is my country."

Said the great and mighty ro\ver,

"From the coast far inland stretching.

Wouldst thou learn how far it reaches ?

Ask the ebb-tide, ask the flood-tide ;

They shall tell thee of my country ;

Tell thee of its reefs to seaward.

Tell thee of its river sources,

Tell thee of its princely houses,

With their eaves of wondrous thickness.

Only seen upon the temples.

And the homes of god and goddess,

Like the palace of our lady,

Shaded by the lofty palm trees.

What is then my lady's thinking ?

Say how shall it be between us ?

The Kings of the Reefs. iS-

Wilt thou stay where now thou dwellest,

Or, with me go o'er the water,

To the hind of man}- rivers ?"

Quick the virgin goddess answered,

" Over ocean's heaving billows,

I to-day with thee will travel ;

And my home at morning's dawning,

Shall be empty and deserted."

" Then the vcsi paddle ply thee,"

Said the mighty god-like rower,

" There ahead, make good thy rowing.

Soon by hrm and steady toiling.

We will reach Na Vitilevu,

Reach our home upon the Rewa,

Reach our thick-eaved pleasure palace."

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>}^ 'ER the forepart went her paddle,
O'er the after went the hero's.
Bravely rowed the youthful couple
Out to sea, and o'er the ocean.
Passing reefs and isles to westward,
Passing reefs and isles to eastward.
Low behind them sank the great-land.
High before them rose Tailevu,
Rose Great-Viti's noble mountains.
When the trade-wind threatened sternh',

Lo ! the hero, snuffing, swallowed.

Gulped the wind and calmed the ocean ;

Then his voice with manful singing,

Sang his old familiar boat-song.

Passing Makongai he sang it.

Sang it when abreast of Kamba ;

Sang it entering Rewa's river.

Ever and anon he sang it ;

The Kings of the Reefs. 1S5

Changing words ^is tides demanded.
When at sea the currents favoured,
He would sing, e'en now they hear him,
When the breeze is from the seaward,
" I will paddle, onward paddle,
While the tide is with me flowing,"
Or again, when up the river,
Rolled the inward tidal water,
Loud his voice the echoes wakened,
" I will paddle, inward paddle."

Thus he cheered his bride of beaut)',
Thus he hlied her soul with music,
Thus he made the lengthening voyage
All the shorter by his singing. •
Hence it is his people, ever,
On the river and the ocean,
Following well his good example,
Sing their boat-songs and their sea-song.s ;
Sing to make their rowing easy,
Sing to make their sculling lightsome,
Sing to make their sailing cheerful.

Paddling over, lord and l.id)',
Reached their tliick-eavt:d plcasanL i),ilac.i-,
Near the tall and liracLfLiI trcc-(ciiis ;

-N'

^^ V -.tS-; '''■'-. w

'Tti

IIIAKOMBAL", TIIK VUNIVAH",
From a drawing by Captain Denham, R.X.

The Kings of the Reefs. iS;

Where the roar of reef was muffled,

And the flowing gurghng river

Floated forth its music ever.

Here began their wedded histor\-.

Time the union richly favoured,

Gods unstinting, dropped their blessings.

Offspring came, and grew and iiourished ;

Sons and daughters, tall and lovel\-.

Bearing each the names befitting

Traits, that marked them each from other.

" Spirit-skirt," and " Robe-of-ilowers,"

"Sacred-cowrie," " Lord-with-eight-eves ;"

" Parakeet," the proud and kingl)- ;

" Source-of-war," the Vunivalu,

Title grand and high and noble,

Taken from that ancient household,

By the conquering lords of Viti ;

Handed down through man}- ages,

Till appeared the last and greatest

Born of all the nation's heroes.

This his ))edigree romantic.

In the roll of years and epochs,

Kingdoms married into kingdoms';

Sons of Mbauan warrior princes

Made alliance with the hero

Rower's god-descended daughters.

Q<;

The Kings of the Reefs.

Tlicncc arose a nice of rulers,
Known as Ml)airs L;reat \'uiiivaliis,
Generals, moving might\- armies ;
Men who aimed in liiLj;h ambition,
All to rule, and rule with hrmness.
One of these was Chief Tanoa,
Son of high-born Rewa princess ;
Doomed to fail of highest purpose,
Yet to be the honoured father
Of the long ]')redictcd hero.
Who should break the people's fetters.

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I9'^«i^^ff5<l*^^

|)TO^E OF #EgTIJ<IY,

"■iiOn • —

f BAU had reached her histor3''s crisis,
^S When she grasped the white man's weapon,

Far and near her fame extended,
^feicft Far and near her name ijrew fearful.

'^'''rl^TSSS?^^'"'^ ^^^1' '^^^^ f^^^"' the nations tribute

Paid to all her ruling chieftains.
But upon her subject peoples,
Hard and heavy pressed the burdens
Which they longed to have uplifted,
By some nol)le-hearted hero.
But a man to win their freedom,
Stood not in the line of chieftains.
Chiefs they had of ever)' station.
Tyrants all, in birth and training;
And to these, of late, was added,
From the white man's land another,
'Twas the strange and deadl\- musket,
Bringing fire, and blood, and thunder
Into all the fruitful valleys.

I go ^ //<■ Kings of the Reefs,

l);i\s wluMi iNiMiits rrusli tlu" people,
P)urniMi;' io he free and hapjiy,
But despair o[' seeini; freedom
i^ov thcnisel\i\s and ehildrcn's cliildreii,
These are chi\s of ahject serfdom,
Grindin^i;', cringing, hopeless service.
Yet tlie worst have aye their prophets,
Telhng of a good time coming ;
IIa\-c their forecasts and their omens.
Setting forth the rise of great ones,
]\Ien of mind, and force, and genius,
Who shall end their nation's bondage.
Right the wrong, and stand for justice,
Mercy, truth, and glorious freedom.
Mbau its omens had, and prophets,
Telling of a chiefly master.
Who would take the helm of Yiti,
When Naulivou should leave it
For the spirit-world of heroes;
And, his tyrant brother dying,
Terminate the age of tyrants.

Ovalau to Viti boasted
Of its wondrous stone historic.
Once a swine, by gods made sacred.
Hands unholy laid upon it,

The Kings of the Reefs. igi

Took it, baked it in an oven ;
But its meat was never eaten,
For the gods to stone converted,
Made it fruitful omen-mother,
Of the nation's future welfare.
When the century that we live in.
Scarce had run a tenth its journey,
Mbau's observing prophet saw it,
Saw the stones of Mbauan fortunes,
Bring to birth its signal offspring.
Then the news flashed forth like hrelight.
Far and near the people heard it,
Talked about it all the day-time,
Dreamt about it in the night-time.
'Twas the sign for joy unbounded,
Ground of highest expectations.
Mbau's Deliverer sure was coming;
Soon his birth would thrill with gladness.
Hearts that now were full of sadness.
Might not near events, domestic,
Be the true and glad fulfilment ?

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I \s>o VEN thus events domestic

Shortly fell, as clearly shadowed ;
For a prince was born in Mbauland ;
Born to one whose royal mother
Was a statel}' Rewa princess,
God-descended, legends tell us,
From the ancient great alliance
'Twcen the Rower-god and goddess.
When the prince's birth was published,

All the chiefs in God-land gathered

Round the chiefly bowl of kava ;

Offered up to gods their prayers.

For the new-born princely stranger.

Said the spokesman of the chieftains,

" Good his coming is among us !

Let his name be Roko Seru,*

Seru, •• Comb."

The Kings of the Reefs.

193

For the matrons have so named him.
Let him in a princely fashion,
When he walks the city pathways,
Wear the comb above the fore-lock.
Let his life l^e lont^ continued.
Ere he furls his sail and stows it.
May his courage and his wisdom,
Save his people ; and the nation,
Lying now in many sections,
Bind in one great mighty vessel,
One canoe, for strength and swiftness,
Beating all canoes on ocean."

Then the lordly drinkers, drinking
From their cups of blue enamel.
Drank the cheering, warming kava ;
Drank the nation's juice yanggona.

-<i5^

m\E IS OE?^D.

iW^

N the palace of the mother,

Sat a group of Albauan matrons,
Of the noblest blood and titles,
Dressed in likn, ladies' dresses.
Some were there to nurse the infant,
Days and nights, till ten were counted,
Ere they ventured down to lay him.
On his mats, of softest rushes.
Edged with pretty scarlet feathers.
Which the parakeets, the kulas,

Ordered by the gods, had sent him,

From the isle of Taviuni.

On the second da}- the ladies.
High in rank, from princely houses
Came, with presents for the infant;
Presents, useful, rare and costly.
Formal, quiet, pleasing, graceful.
Was the loyal presentation.

The Kings of the Reefs.

195

In the ladies' long procession,
Joined there none of recent wedlock ;
No, nor even souo,'ht to see it,

::\>.

"K^^K'

^ iM

Lest the art, as wise; men warned llicm,

Should affect tlie prince's vision,

Cross his princely (-yes, and make diem

Look askance tliroii^li all his life-time.
When the t;ifts had all been offered,
Atid a tluHisand j^raises with them ;
When the dames had seen the wonder,
And retired to talk about him ;
Then in every courtlv dwellini;'.
On the little regal island.
Came the words in conversation,
"Good is now the stranger's coming!
Good the drinking of the kava !
Good the -welcome and the prayers !
Good the presents of the ladies !
Good the care of newly married !
Good the singing and the feasting !
Good ; but hush, ^vhat wailing hear we ?
New^s of death and sore bereavement !
Hark ! again the sound of weeping
Breaks upon us from the palace!"
Ah ! 'Tis true, 'tis true and saddening ;
She is dead! The prince's mother
Sleeps ! And sorrow rends the city.

N.Si-wscus't ^efeefoefe i&gfe

,,mA»..

^Ti^^'i^ipi^'iJ^'^'

Ij^ TWE ©ITY OF ^KJ<1Y \J9hTERS.

■I^IlK

HANGED by death in one brief moment;
Changed the scene on Mbau's fair ishmd;
Changed the feasting into mourning.
So the stricken, royal chieftain,
Seru's father, stern Tanoa,
Speaking to his sad attendants.
Told them how to care for Seru ;
"Take the infant prince to Rewa ;
I am Vasn * to that nation ;

iJi their daughters was m)- mother.

Take the prince!}' boy to Rewa,

Take him from the dreadful clanger.

Lest his mother's spirit, grieving,

In her sorrow snatch him from us.

Let their chiefly ladies nurse him ;

* Vasu, " sister's son." The son uf a royal luincoss is vasu to the wliolc " nation." Tlu'
vasu has great power and strong rights over liis uncle's property.

igS Tlie Kiui:;^ of Ihc Rafs.

Let hi> chilclluK)d });iss ainoni; tlu'in ;
Let him in llu-ir nol)k' river,
Learn lo swim and hathe at jilcasure ;
Let him sec their \va\s and manners ;
Let them teach him to ube}- us ;
Let them tell him of the fairies ;
Tell him likewise of the spirits,
Of the great ones gone before us. •
Let them tell him of religion,
Tell him of the gods so mighty ;
Show him sacred burial places.
Let him see their princely nobles,
Know from whom the}' are descended.
Let him learn the art of fighting.
When we want him back in god-land,
We will show^ our mind to Rew^a.
Go, and all the gods be wath him.
Turn we now to tears, and sorrow^
For the fighter. Death, has struck us."
So they turned to tears and sorrow,
For the warrior, Death, lias struck them.

But the prince was borne to Rewa ;
Rewa on the w^ondrous river.
With its many spreading w^aters.
With its fertile level country.

The Kings of the Reefs. igg

Yielding yams and cane in plenty.
Place of chiefs and troops and builders ;
Land of great canoes of swiftness !
Rewa, queen of man}' cities,
Pride of Viti's chiefs and people !"

Thither was young Seru taken ;
There he found a hearty welcome ;
There they held his natal banquets ;
Feasts in memory of his progress ;
Feast of washing, when the infant
First was washed in briny water
Brought in bamboos from the ocean.
Feast of turning, when the hero
By his boldest baby efforts,
After many luckless failures.
Turned his infant body over,
'Mid his own and others' gladness.
Then there came the feast of crawling,
When the prince with joy discovered,
Man was made for locomotion.

Nursed and tended well ancb petted,
In tlie sunny, liot-house cliinalc
Of the rainy, steamy hnvlands,
Viti's latest treasure (juickl)'

200

77/ £' Knigs of the Rcc/s.

CiTcw from habv-forni to rliildliood's,
Makiiii; all who saw liim wonder.

Then the nation's poet singing,
Sang of human Hfe, its stages :
Telling how it comes and passes ;
Sang, while lords and ladies listening,
Wondered at his simple riddle.

•iS:<*^$?-5§?>:§--

'WE p^OETS I^IDDLE.

»f<i-

^ URSTING into life, a creature
Odd, and weak and verj- little,
Uses one leg, one leg only ;
More he needs not, for the present.
When above the ocean rising.
Comes the Eye-of-day, in glory.
Shining on the waves and hill-tojxs,
Then the little rebel, weary
With his one-leg life of dulness,

Proudly throws aside the member;

Takes him four new legs to go with.

Hence, with these you now behold liini,

Plunging into life's big mystery.

When the Eye-of-day gets higher.

And the four-legged wonder, older,

Feels that two legs well may serve; him,

Forth he carries two, sus])ended,

Walks uprightly on the others.

202 Tlic KiiiQS of the Reefs.

W'luMi llic lCyc-()f-d;i\- in climbing,
Reaches io liis niid-da)- splendour,
Turns and bends his footsteps westward,
Scorching in his iiery pathway,
Men, and lands and fruitful gardens,
Then descends, to cjuench his splendour
Where the ocean bears the heavens,
Lo, where now the mighty two-legs !
Gone are all his pride and boasting ;
Gone his stature tall and stately ;
There you see him, in the gloaming,
Not with two, but three legs going!
Now the Eye-of-day, determined.
Leaps beneath the deepening ocean ;
\\'ith him goes the little creature !
And the night on sea and mountain.
Is the only hero ruler.
Tell me, ye, the sons of wisdom,
Tell me what and whence and whither,
Is, and came, and went the phantom,
Changing oft, and with the sunset,
Passing out of sight for ever ? " *

* The Sphinx Riddle was found in Fiji. It is not an irapoitation.

^<J^

^^i9^

•WEY ^IVE It ^p.

^^-

•Sf

x>iS ®. ® @ ©€> © ©'fe ® ©■ ©: ©

• --^(s^-- •

0>^HEN the princes and attendants,

:;^c^

^@S^ Challenged by the riddle master,

'ctS^ Tried his question hard to answer,
.,,-_ $^^s<r Tried, but gave it up despairing;

M#JWf>ia«¥ffS Then the nation's ix)et, happy.

Told the meaninij of liis riddle.

" Chiefs, ambassadors and princes,
Can you not my words intcrprt't ?
Know you not the Httle crc\ature ?

Listen then, and I will tell )()u.

Into life there comes a wonder,

With but one leg, one leg onl)' ;

More he needs not for the? j^rcsent ;

Could not use them if he had them ;

So, with OIK", he is contcnt(>d.

Only on his back he lieth,

(3ainin</ strength for future cflorL

204 The Ki)ii:[s of the Reefs.

Hul wluMi up above tlic ocean,
Brii;hl ihc l^^yc-of-day appcarcth,
Then tlie restless prince of wonders,
Wear\- with liis life of stillness,
Turns to bands and knees, in earnest
riun.L^ini;- into life's bi,i;- mystery.
Findin.t;- bands and knees encumbcrin;:;-,
On bis feet he walks upri.^btly.
Still the Eye-of-day persisting,
Climbcth well bis heavenly pathway,
Till he bnds bis bi^^best outlook ;
Scorcbin.ij^ thence, with hery ,f(lances,
Men, and lands, and fruitful .t^^ardens.
Then be.^nns bis downward climbing.
Till the evenino- shadows lengthen ;
When, if asking for, sir, 'Two-legs,'
There with three-legs you perceive him.
Bent and old and (|uite decrepit,
Two legs would no longer serve him ;
' So,' said be, bis son addressing,
' I must now a third one borrow ;
Chop me from the wood adjacent,
Walking stafi's for age's weakness ;
Soon my journey will be finished.'
" Now you have it ;" said the poet,
" Now you see it, noble chieftains ;

TJie Kings of the Reefs.

20:

For the truth H,^hts up your faces.
Yes, 'tis mcin, tlie wondrous creature,
Of whose Hfe I've told the stages —
Lying, crawhng, walking, hobbling —
Life of man is but a story
Brief, and quickly told and rambling.
Stages four, then done for ever
Here ; but in the world of spirits,
Never! only onward ever!"

h^^^

_/? I^ROPWEeV.

«* <^-'^-^. r:c

>|c|fHEN the poet closed his riddle,
ci^ Which, in truth, had come to memory,
""^ Through his noting how the infant,

s<2f^i^

How the prince had grown and flourished;

Then a priest, his mind unfolding,

Told his thought anent the riddle ;

Saying, " 'Tis the foretold story,

Of the princely Seru's future.

After many gardens planted,

By his long and chiefly planting ;

After winning many battles,

By his bold and chiefly fighting;

After ruling many peoples.

By his wise and chiefly ruling;

Like the Eye-of-day descending

Down into the shining waters,

So the prince of Mbau will hasten.

In his age, and in his greyness,

The Kings of the Reefs.

20:

Old, decrepit, honoured, nol)le.
Then shall men, bethinking, say it,
'Now the Eye-of-day is hidden;
Night is spread on sea and mountain;'
But the name of kingly Seru,
Like his spirit, ne'er shall perish.
Men, his memory greatly blessing,
Will a stone uprear in Mbauland,
That shall tell to generations,
How it was he saved his people."

r^O I^ESPECTER OF p)KlJ<lC:ES.

^.■<.

■^^'

x®:<r
;?^>-ONTIIS of kind and careful nursing'

., ;, ;. Made the prince both strong and chubby;

k:©>i: Clothed him with sul)stantial muscle ;

Gave his eye a glowing brightness.

S?©© ©:*»€> ©©@ O O i: C ^Z: ^ L

^f'!K%'%'%--'*''i-'4-r-f-T^^rr>i^ But howe er then" nurses nurse them,

.v^O

©ft-S)

Children cannot 'scape diseases ;
These will come, and often threaten,
With a troop of after evils,
Infant life of every order,
Whether that of serf, or chieftain.

Caste in Viti gives a status

To each child, and man and woman.

None but one may disregard it ;

He, that one, the plague of children,

^len and women, prince and peasant,

Never doffs his chiefly turban.

Never pays respect to any ;

Comes and goes, whene'er he pleases.

The Kings of the Reefs. 2og

Sickness came apace to Seru,
Came and entered at the doorwa}-,
Entered boldly, none preventing ;
Came where none would dare to enter,
Were he prince or king or hero,
Ere he made respectful iauia,
Ere he gave the shout of homage.
Eirst he came in burning fever ;
Then in cold and chilling ague ;
Then in wasting, weakening fluxes.
But through all, young Seru struggled,
By the care of tender nurses.
By the simple herbal physic.
Which his doctors daily gave him.
And the offerings of the people.
To the gods for his protection.

When his third year dawned upon him;
Health returned and brightness with it ;
Yet if that had not been broken,
By another dread invader,
Ere his infant days were over,
'Twould have been the dire pr(;cursor,
Of a sad and livelong weakness.
'Tis a rule with Viti parents,
If a child has not tlie sickness,

jio Tlic Kiiii^s of tiic Reefs.

lie for lift- will 1)(.' a wraklini;-,

if it covers .ill his l)od\ ,

Till no spot is "dry" upon it,

lie is heir to health's endowment;

Will in after years be sturdy;

If a woman, beat the masi,

Make of beaten bark the elothing,

For her own and other people ;

Plait the mats and fans in plenty ;

Catch the tish in great abundance ;

Bear on back her chubby children ;

Tend her lord, and feed and cherish,

As no puny housew^ife could do.

But if man, will throw the muto,

Throw the spear wuth strength of giant ;

Plant abundant yams in season ;

Grow the taro, and the bread-fruit ;

Hold in stormy seas the steer-oar.

With a manly grip for steering.

So the prince's nurses w^atched him.
Looked to find the signs upon him ;
Took him where were thoko* children.
That the sickness might o'ertake him ;
While he yet was yoXmg and tender.

* Thoko, a skin disease of children, resembling the "yaws" of the West Indies.

Tlic Kings of the Reefs.

211

Soon the gods, propitious, favoured ;
Soon the prince's skin was covered
With the good, yet sickening omen
Of robustness in his manhood.
Then the dames of Re^va told it,
Spread the news to every province,
That the infant would be mighty ;
Would be handsome, tough and stalwart ;
Able for the field of battle,
Able for the storms of ocean.

"^■.V^;, ^^^^^^^

:^i>

^IKE ?\ ^ISW in \BSTER.

>Ull|^|llll

^^^ HEN the infant sickness left him,
Then began in right good earnest,
Seru's careful daily training ;

^-^

Lessons in the art of bathing.
Lessons in the art of swimming.

S^t

Nothing more his nurse dehghted,
Than at noon to take to water,
Plunge into the sunny river,
With the prince upon her shoulders ;

Then unship him, let him struggle

In the wavelets, screaming, sinking;

While she made as if to leave him,

For Nasali's near embankment ;

Turning quick, before she reached it.

At his lusty infant cr3^ing ;

Chatting to him like a mother,

As she threw him on her shoulders.

Tlie Kings of the Reefs.

213

Bore him swiftly down the river,
Turned his cryinp^ into laughter.
Thus did vSeru, under training,
By these painful, pleasant lessons,
Soon became an able swimmer,
Clever as a fish in water.
Whilst his body, taller, stronger.
Year by year continued growing.
Through his healthful exercises,
On the land and in the river.

.g)^ «? r^' ,# ^ ■•■■•i^ # m iti ^^y\

•HL^

I^ESPECT FOR GlDERS.

>^^r5?<-

■^D^

<©:

<s<-

>@:>t FTEN Seru's wise attendants

>S<r?^ Told him thin2:s to make him thouirlitful,

>®c^ Make him wonder, think and reason.

c^l^^cA^o

:>(Y¥^gi;|5fc Taught him, too, tlie chiefly duty,
-i^'^^^'l^rfi^f^^'^^ Of respect for elders living, -

And for spirits great, departed.
■ ^- When his stu1)born wayward temper,

Fought against his nurse's ruling,
She would tell him how another
Naughty little hoy before him,.
Once upon a time, not heeding
What his aged grandam told him,
Got a caution for his folly.

" Grandam, I have seen a spirit,"
Said the frightened, trembling truant,
" Seen a chieftain, like my father,
Sitting, where he used when living,

The Kings of the Reefs. * zi

On his swift and well-cut sailer.
Glared his eyes in fierceness at me,
When I rushed in terror past him,
Ran, not hoping to escape him."
Then his grandam, full of anger,
Answered to the boyish rebel ;

" Stay not out again at night-time ;

'Tis the time when spirits watch us.

'Twas the spirit of thy father,

On his swift canoe, lamenting

O'er the morals of his people,

Who, their duty had neglected ;

Left upon the beach his vessel ;

Never to his grave had hauled it ;

Now we know her earthly sailing,

All is o'er and done for ever.

Slackened are her sinnet lashings.

Never more will they be tightened.

Like her master, she is resting

From the turmoil of the ocean.

And the wise ones often tell us.

When a hero dies and leaves us.
His canoe should willi him travel.
That u])<)n tlic spirit waters
She may sail with wondrous sailing;
Therefore i)lace it o'er his body.

2!'> The Kings of tlic Reefs.

" "rwas i\\v spirit of tin' fatlu^r,
lie is TDiiu' to vi'x and tnuililc
All bis kinsnuMi and his jn'oplc,
Vov their want of due attention,
To tlie hiij^li nnd sacred duty,
Done hv all the thou,<^htful li\'in,ij^,
To their late departed Jierocs.
See ! Thv father's ![3jrave unfinished,
And liis swift canoe is missin<:j;.
Crime encni.^li to keep his spirit,
From the distant spirit kingdom,
Here, to trouble thoughtless ingrates ;
Now to terrify the people ;
Now to frighten all the children,
Who at all despise their elders,
Disobey their words of warning.
Therefore go not forth at night-time,
Be obedient in the day-time.
Lest thy father's eyes alarm thee."

Thus within his early boyhood,
Seru's teachers tried to teach him,
To obey his elders' orders.
And respect their names and office.
Should he fail to learn the lesson.
They in clearest words assured him.

The Kings of the Reefs. 21 /

Ghosts would haunt him in the darkness,

Spirits meet him in the twiHght.

Also, if alone he travelled,

When he came to youth and manhood,

Though he may no law have broken.

Yet, he must not ever lin^^er,

In the forest after sunset.

Should he find himself belated.

He must taiiia, greet as chieftains,

All the spirits that inhabit

Every nook, and cave and cranny.

Such respect, but once neglected,

Would upon his sacred person

Bring the ire of all the demons,

Who, unseen, are more in number,

Than the tribes of men or fiiries.

—^ici^-x

Sme ^F\ieK§Y Bribes.

ZVV to rouse imagination,

^|;>;i^ In tlic young and princely Scru,

In liis walks his cheerful teachers

old him how the tricksy races-

r^^Si^ Countless everywhere their numbers,
Given more to fun and mischief.

■: cTA?

Than to working deeds of vileness-
Bravely come, in stealthy boldness,
Out of tangled grass and bushes,
Out of hollows in the pine trees,

From a thousand hiding places ;

Like the nainii, the mosquitoes ;

Like the busy ants, the lolo,

Creeping into town and village,

Into every nook and corner ;

Come, with hearts full up with mischief.

Come to frolic in the sunshine,

Come and go, yet undiscovered,

Save by signs they leave behind them ;

Signs of petty theft and feasting,

Tlie Kings of the Reefs. • 219

Fires put out and ashes scattered,

Suppers eaten, that were cooking

For the villagers returning

From the toil of garden planting.

Whom they eye, and dodge, and laugh at;

Saying oft, in merry chatter,

''Oh, the pleasures of these trickeries,

Played by little folk on big ones !"

This amused the youthful Mbauan ;

Woke his thought and observation.

Walking through the shady pathways,

How his boyish eyes would wander,

Search in shrub and bush and flower,

For some sign of hiding fairy !

How in heart he longed to catch tlicm !

When he heard a gentle fluttering,

"There they are, the tricksy fairies!"

He would say, with dancing gladnc^ss ;

But his laughing, pleased attendants.

Only answered, " No ! the parrots."

When he heard the softest rustling,

" 'Twas an elf come out to (juiz him."

But his teachers answcn^ed nnly;

" No, 'tis nothing but a lizard."

So, however well Ik; hunted,

He could never c.aLcli the hiiiics.

, cv^^v-^ '''*'"*'';r'"'-'"'"H''''''^'ffi^'n*ffnfl'*''*'*^'^'^^''"''*'*^'"*'^'"'''"'

,1.>.i.i..A,.M^:l;..lc..1..1.cl..i.:t;vt,

»^-V"iK'rV"V^4-n-r4-^''KtV^f

'■^S!^, &Ss SS^ »««^!^'\^

^OL.Y (^R.Oaj<ID.

'^'^:c|^LDER, taller, wiser growing,
"" Scru with the elders travelled.

Heard their talk of men and places.
Jl^ Often to the beach they took him,
^l^"'-t^-*^''*"-^"*T'*i3^'''o''^ Where he bathed, and swam and fj^amboled.

-.^c^ There, along the strand, he wandered,

To the grove of Yevuyevu ;

Heard the ancients talk about it ;

"See," they said, "those trees so massive;

See their mighty branches spreading,
Rising, bending, arching o'er us ;
See the palms and figs and tree-ferns.
Growing 'mong their giant comrades ;
See the creepers, snake-like, coiling.
Binding, netting all together.
In a maze of woody darkness.
Where but here and there an opening.
Made by angry, windy demon.

The Kings of the Reefs. 221

Shows the hght, and sea and vessels
To imprisoned peering watcher !"
Here at night, in times of trouble,
Comes the priest, his god to (.juestion.
"Is it cruel war and famine,
Or the reign of peace and plenty ?"
" Lo, the blood-drops on the pathway !
Sharpen spears! Prepare for bloodshed!"
" See, the track is clean and peaceful !
In the temple store your weapons !"

Thus, with vSeru close beside them,
Rewa elders glib and solemn,
Talked anent the sacred forest.
Said they, further, in his hearing,
That the prince might ne'er forget it,
" 'Tis a place by spirits haunted ;
Ground that foot of slave, or chieftain.
May not tread upon presuming.
Better far at distance keeping,
Than with careless foot and clumsy.
Touch the sod for ages hol\-.
Doffed sh(juld be the graceful turban ;
Doffed the decorative dresses ;
Whilst the i)asser, passing slowl}',
Treading softly, ])o\ving lowl}',

222

The Kings of the Reefs,

(iroancth fortli the salutations,
Duo from man to those above him ;
Angered else, the gods will smite him.
Take all manly courage from him,
And with childish fears enslave him."

'<J3f^

isasssssssgesaesa ■seen S

-r<i3^-

iseeesssessseeeeestn

' (fHE MkGIC §TOJ<lE.

!;>'©:■© (^ © © ©■ ©■ ©„@ © ©■' ST'"" "- ■

• ■ ■^#'" • ■ ■

'^)'©; Q © © © ©■ ©■ C@ © ©■• ©y<0<'e ;

,.,. _^ ,^ ^ ^ „ . " -" /■s;/v/x^@pr:

>U EWA princes, brave and restless,
^f^ Sometimes took youn<^^ Seru with them ;
Now along the bush tracks goin,*;-,
-c-x®xlt Then upon the wondrous river.

^J>® @ :®)g).'.® ©-.©'©© i®; © 0} ©iCS,

"?tA/V>X/\i'X/\/\/^/x/X/S/\/\<X^S^ , , , . , , . ,

^^$f^^^^jt^%^^^^^^^ Many were the si^rhts he witnessed ;

" Many were the things the)- showed Inm.

Once, beyond Nausori rowing,
On Wailevu's rapid current,
There around a bend they Ijrou.^hl him,
To the widely noted w^ater.

With enchanted stone beneath it.

There they bathed, and laughed and sported,

Shaded by the spreading branches.

There he heard them tell the secret,

Tell about the sunken wonder,

Tell its great and mystic power.

How its unknown subtle magic.

On the chins (jf youtlifiil bathers.

224

The Kings of the Reefs.

'r.ilK'i- llian himself ami t)l(lcr,
It" lhc\- cli\-c, and nil) against it
r)rii\L;s the down of caii_\" manhood.
'Twas a revelation to him.
'Twas a spark that lired his spirit,
With ambition to be older.
"Oh, to bathe in god-blest water,
Where the magic stone is hidden ;
Oh, to leap to bearded manhood !"

Let his Highness be contented,
With his wishing, waiting, growing;
Learning much b)- observation.
And by listening to his teachers ;
Then, in years to come, his bathing,
Shall the beard of manhood bring him,

^^'W

^^ssfesc

^^^

ISlS ISlS IS iS ISlS ^^

^^^(^l^jSSS"

I^EiGjq OF Terror.

T|><g g'®: :®) @ ®. @. @M:® ©'■©! @<r

7i^ 'T' -T^ -T- -T- 'T- 4' 'I-- 'K

I^HEN around the fire at night-time,
Talkers, talking of the seasons,
Told the prince their names and order ;
Told the signs that clearly mark them,
Mark their coming and their going.
Thus he came to learn the secret,
Why man's work is always changing.
Not a day, but much was added,
To his stock of useful knowledge.
Soon he learned the names of ilowers,

Trees, and shrubs, and ferns, and grasses,

Fish, and birds, and beasts, and reptiles.

Not a thing escaped his notice ;

Seen but once 'twas ne'er forgotten.

Evil things, as well as good ones,

Learned he, fast as men could teach him.

In his games with chiefly children.

Oft he played with Ratu Nggara,

226 The Kings of the Reefs.

One of Kcwa's destined lieioes.

In the sand tliey built their war-towns,

Fought with glee in mimic battle ;

Sa\ing in their hottest moments,

*' Some day we will light each other!"

" I to Mbau will lead m)- heroes !"

Said the Rewa princely Nggara.

" I will burn your boasting cities ;"

Said the ]\Ibauan hero, Seru.

While the Rewa chieftains, joyous,
Watched their high-born ward's improvement.
Noted signs that told them plainly,
He w-ould never be a dullard ;
While themselves they greatly prided.
That to them had been committed,
Seru's most important training ;
While they hoped to keep him with them.
Make him more a prince of Rewa,
Than of Mbau, his native city ;
Down there fell a bolt of thunder.
Shattering all their hopes to pieces,
Smiting all the kingly circle.
With confusion and with anguish.
Murder robbed them of their Ruler,
Koroitamana killed him.

The Kings of the Reefs. 227

Clubbed his father, Tambaiwalu !

Moved as by a sudden earthquake,

All the ruling houses trembled —

Ko Narusa, Ko Nakali,*

With the other, Ko Nalase.

None but these can give a monarch,

To Ndreketi's mighty kingdom.

Consternation wild and frightful,

Reigned in every princely palace.

Struck with panic all the nobles

Of Nai Vakathau,t the wealthy,

Of the Nukunitambua,

Of the brave Na Sauturanga,

On its six foundations ancient ;

Of the loyal Tongaviti,

Now the king, whose name is Terror,

Swayed his sceptre o'er the kingdom ;

Filled the land with many horrors.

First, the parricide he followed ;

Chased him sore, and shed his life's blood.

Then the fratricidal demon,

Like a tiger sought his victims.

Jealous brother murdered brother.

Prince Mawaij^ was foully smitten ;

* The Royal Glaus of Bewa.

t Nai Viihathan, lOc. These are the ininciinil Clans of llcwa, under the lloyal Clans.

I The full name uf this chief was Matiianawai.

jjS The Knii^s of the Reefs.

Kiiii^' Sawau u}">rosr and killed him.

With a sacred bKKxl-staiiud \vcaj>on,

Latch- from the temple taken.

Then X'eindovi, full oi \enom,

Shot, with while man's i(un, his brother.

Then the nation, sorely riven,

Bowed its head in tearful sorrow,

Wept for King Sawau the murdered ;

^lourned and wailed, as for a hero.

Whom they would have kept, and honoured,

^lore than all his fallen rivals.

E'en to-day you hear the old men

Tell his praises, and his last words.

He was mourned by many thousands,

Wlio reposed beneath the shelter

Which he sought to spread above them,

In the days of revolution,

When ambition, wild and savage,

Broke through every tie of honour.

Which e'en pagan minds hold sacred,

In the times of calm reflection.

Strong and handsome, bold and noble,
On the day to him so fateful,
Sat the chief on softest matting ;
Sat, his evening ^meal discussing ;

The Kings of the Reefs.

229

When, at open door, low bendinf^,
In the darkness came his l)rother ;
Came and fired the deadly musket.
Fired it ;it the people's favourite.
Swiftly Hew the fatal bullet,
As the chieftain's poet tells us,
In the dirge his master ordered,
In his last, his dying sentence.

-.v'6:

**«|:

.(S^

P^OODS OF ^EKRS.

®° HOT, yet living, shot and dying,
Lay the chiefly hero-soldier.
Eight long days his life was ebbing ;
And, the news, like wild-fire spreading.
Brought together many nobles ;
Who, in silence all unbroken.
Save by woman's cries and weeping,
Sat, the dying chief surrounding ;
Sat, and wept, their heads low bowing.

Floods of tears the ground bedewing.

Flowed from eyes all red with weeping.

Then as death drew near, and nearer,

Long-kept silence (|uick was broken.

By the speakers of the nation.

" Ruined is the land we live in ;
Ruined is our stricken countr}-.
All our heroes now have perished.

The Kings of the Reefs.

Tell us, tell us, tell thy children,

Dying master, what thy mind is ?"

Whereupon the sinking chieftain,

Roused, and gathered strength, and answered,

Whispering to the listening mourners ;

" I'm a title, theme, and patron,

For our bard, our regal singer,

See where hangs his 'fee for singing.

And remember, I have said it,

Said it as my dying message,

Ten and ten, my wives they number ;

Twenty wives, I leave among you."

Thus the chief, and thus he ended ;
Ended speech and life together.
To the land of warlike spirits.
Fled the hero, hoping, longing
For his wives to quickly follow.
Nor in vain his hopes and wishes ;
Faithful to his dying orders.
Faithful to their wifely duty.
Many of the chieftain's widows.
Begged the stranglcrs to dispatch tlicni.
So they might his lordly spirit ■
Follow to the unknown countr)-.
Where the brave the gods ennoble.
Make them like themselves, immortal.

I^Ee?\kbED.

rilOU —

HEN the reign of terror flourished,
When its shadows, cast so darkly,
Over all the tribes of Rewa,
By the death of Tambaiwalu,
Told of countless hidden dangers ;
Seru was recalled to Mbauland,
By Tanoa's special orders.
Chiefly men the prince escorted,
f r From the cities of the Delta,

From the desolating troubles,

To his father's strong protection.

Joy unbounded filled the island.

When the prince returned in safety.

Mbauans drank, and sang, and feasted,

As they would in time of conquest.

Great was also Seru's gladness,

Greater still his boyish wonder.

The Kings of the Reefs. 233

When he saw his native city ;
When he learned it was the j^reatcst,
Bravest, wisest place in Viti.
Here were riches from the islands,
Ruled by other mighty heroes,
Bold allies both true and friendly ;
Also, from the conquered kingdoms,
Women young, of matchless beauty,
Had their home in lordly dwellings.
While canoes of war and commerce,
Great and small, in port and sailing.
Were the glor}^ of the nation.
Side by side, the houses crowded
Thick together, round the island.
O'er the dead there walked the living ;
For the dead, beneath the houses,
By the living aye were buried.
Under homes they ate and lived iii.
There, at last, their bodies rested.
None but kings were ever buried.
On the island's peaceful summit,
Save the honoured, nameless, white m;
Morn and eve the beach was crowded.
With a multitude of people.
Turbaned chiefs the streets j^aradcd,
Mingling with their chiefly conn-ades.

234 ^^'^' A'/;/^'-5 of the Reefs.

To and fro did Scru wander,

In and out, among the Iniildings,

Till he knew their names and uses.

Here he saw the Strangers' iiibiin',*

W here so many often gathered,

For exchange of island produce;

Or for human sacrifices.

Feasting on the god-abandoned

\'ictims given o'er in battle,

Storm, and plot, and tyrant's anger.

There he came on skilful w^orkmen

Building great canoes for sailing.

Said he, to himself, with longing,

"O to be a chieliy sailor,

Sailing o'er the deep, blue water !

Some day I'll be king of workmen ;

They shall build me Queen of Vessels ;

I will be her hero captain."

* Mbure, a building for a special purpose ; e.g., a temple, &c., as distinguished from vale,
the ordinary dwelling-house.

■^fe#^'

.svct.M^^^^^.i^ffiplft^'i^

I^ED ^wd;

I ME went on, till one day, weary
With the eating and the sleeping-,
On the crowded, sultry island ;
x\ll the higher sailor chieftains,
Longed for life upon the ocean.
So to sailing' they betook them,
Taking with them princely Seru.
How his heart leaped up with gladness,
When he stepped ujion the vessel,

Bound for bright Muala Island,

Where arriving, they were treated.

By the countr)''s master plotter,

With respectful, princc.'ly treatment.

On the day of regal feasting,

At a well-known given signal,

All the Mbauan lords, uprising,

Witli their host, and ;ill his pari}-,

236 The Kings of the Reefs.

VcW upon the unarmed people —
Governed by anotlier chieftain
\\\\o the plotter had offended —
Smote them with a dreadful smiting.
Seru on the beach was playing,
^^'hile the deed of death proceeded.
When 'twas over, came there to him,
Fierce of look and full of ancjer,
One of Mbau's emboldened princes,
Thirsting still for blood and slaughter.
" Sire," he said, the prince addressing.
Holding out an ugly weapon,
" Take this club and use it bravely.
You must early learn your duty ;
Early learn to strike in battle."
Then a boy his vassals captured,
Dragged him where the prince was sitting,
And, uprising, Seru smote him,
Clubbed and slew him near the water.
'Twas an island boy, his playmate,
Playing with him glad and happy,
Ere the fatal order given
Woke the prince to deeds of darkness,
Made his hands so red with murder.
Seru turned to join his comrades,
Saying to himself delighted,

The Kings of the Reefs.

237

" Oh, to be a mighty fighter,
Oh, to be the king of heroes !
Some day Til be Vunivalu ;
I'll be head of all the armies;
I will lead them forth to battle,
As no other leader led them."

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<g^ \Y by day the Mbauans feasted ;

Night by nii^ht they drank yanggona;
Day and night they danced, or, silent.
Listened to the story-tehers,
TelHng deeds of wondrous strangeness.
One there was who pleased young Seru,
With his tale of Water Children.
Thus in simple words he told it.
" They at many tricks are clever,
Lifrhtin"; fires on house-roof thatches ;

Roasting at them prawns for supper ;

Yet the thatch is aiwa}s fire-proof,

Whilst the prawns are nicely roasted ;

Dipping native cloth in water.

Yet withdrawing, dry as ever;

On the land as on the river.

Poling great canoes with swiftness.

You ma)- club them, they recover !

The Kings of the Reefs. 239

You may spear them, they defy you,

Heahng all the wounds you give them !

Fresh and green the leaves they gather,

And, by breathing gently on them.

Into fire will quickly kindle !

When the gods possess and teach them,

They in madness tell the future !

Near the river banks you hnd them,

Or at sea, to islands drifting.

If you want them, you must seek them ;

Never here nor there abiding,

Ever waifs, adrift, but happy;

Hence their name, the Water Children !"

Said the prince, but not to others,

" Some day I will come across them !"

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<@^HEN the days of mirth were over,
^#>'^^' Back to Mbau the princes voyas^ed ;
(m^ Only soon to <^o in mourning ;
.«•-- Dress in old and ragsjed mattin^^,
/'l?^SSSWi'SSW"5 For Naulivou, the Chieftain,

Done to death by evil doers ;

Who, the art of magic working,
Smote with fear the nation's Ruler.
Then the monarch was succeeded,
By his bold and sterner brother,

King Tanoa, Seru's father.

Xot of one united countr}-.

Did he come to be the leader ;

For as yet the Mbauan chieftains.

Only dreamed of future empire.

Onward swept the island's history,

Aye through blood and superstition,

Steered by tyrant at the steer oar.

The Kings of the Reefs. 241

Upward grew the youthful Seru,
Till the day his peers decided,
He should don the manly masi.
Standing on a pile of victims
For the ceremony slaughtered,
With a massive club uplifted,
Seru patient, watched and waited.
Then the priest, the gods invoking,
Craved in priestly style their blessing
On the noble prince of Mbauland.
" May he live, and smite the foeman :
Never may his arrows fail him ;
Ever may his blows be faithful ;
Always may his shots be deadly,
When the white man's gun he raises.
Keen in finding out the plotters,
'Gainst the nation's king and people ;
Brave in war, and wise in counsel,
May he help to bind together
All the islands of the ocean !"
Hearing which, the king and chieftains.
Shouted loud their high approval.
Tlien the lordly men, appointed
To the great and solemn duty,
Wrapt the cloth around his highness!
'Twas his first, his manly vesture.

242

Thi- Kiiii^s of the Reefs,

Once :i,i;ain llu- L;t>(ls acUlrossiiii^,
Priests repeated tlieir petitions;
** Make tlie prince in days of evil,
Kini;- of terrors to the rel:)els !"
W'liereupon tlie i2;reat assemblage
Shouted '^ ^lana ! Ndina ! NMina !
\\'ork of gods, in truth we ask it!"
Then to feasting went the city ;
Went to drinking, went to singing
Of the hero, young and hopeful.
Who to manhood had ascended.

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(i)WE ©iTY OF Temple;

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®e. IME went on, and contemplation
Woke within him larger wonder,
At his city, and its temples,
With their roofs so steep and lofty,
With their eaves of wondrous thickness,
With their shells of matchless whiteness,
Shining in the glowing sunlight,
Gleaming in the cloudless moonlight.
Temples, where the gods were dwelling.

In the solemn, awful darkness.

In the mystery, awe-inspiring.

When he thought about the beauty.

Of those high and sacred j^laces ;

When he tried to count their numbt'r.

When confusion smote his counting.

And the beauty dazed his thinking,

Pride of country broke his silence ;

244

The Knifes of tJic Rtcjs.

CiAxc him spcccli io sjHMk in wisdom ;

In tho ]-)icsoncc of his ciders.

" iMbaii they call this little^ island,

?^Icn should name thee, .i;rcatly trcMnhlinj^^,

THE GREAT TEMPLE AT BAU, WITH THE STONE AGAINST WHICH
THE HUMAN VICTIMS WERE DASHED.

City great of gods and temples!"
Hearing which, a priest in honour,
Known and feared in courtly circles,
Talked at length of gods and temples,

The Kings of the Reefs. 245

To instruct the youthful chieftain.
Said he, while the nobles listened,
Full of awe, and full of wonder :
" Many are the gods we worship,
Gods that gods remain for ever,'
Always young and hale and lusty.
Gods from noble gods descended,
Ruling men and changing nature.
Gods that once were human spirits,
Since, by fame and death uplifted.
To the realm of god-made heroes,
To the ranks of great immortals.
Gods of baser sort and meaner,
Gods of every form and feature ;
Gods in stones, and trees, and flowers ;
Gods in birds, and beasts, and fishes;
Gods in snake-like form so awful ;
Gods in human form so lovely:
Gods enshrined in every object,
Which the gods themselves created.
Land of gods! Thy name is God-land!"

Here the priest more earnest growing,
Told his hearers, all, to worship,
Bring the produce of the gardens,
Bring the wealth of princely owners,
To the temples of the nation.

The Kings of the Reefs.

Sciu }H)iulci"ocl all his tcachini^ ;
Thought about the ,^^)ds and sjiirits ;
Wondered at their rank and number;
\\"ondered at their words and doings;
Wondered, as he never wondered.
But his wonder reached its highest,
When the j'jriest his mind excited
With his tales of Ndengei's greatness.
With the story of his history,
Handed down by ancient poet.

" Beauty loving, great inventor.
Chief of gods, and men and demons.
Once in human form indw^elling.
Now in coiling serpent living ;
Tell thy servant why so altered ;
Tell him how the change came o'er thee!"
Then Ndengei, Kauvandra* shaking,
Told his servant why he altered,
Told him how^ the change eame o'er him.

" Noble was my form wdien human,
God-like was the mind within me,
Till I knew my power was waning,

* Kauvandra {Vandamis odoratissimus, Linn.) A place on the northern part of Na Viti Lcvu,
where this tree is found in abundance, and near which the great god of Fiji had his abode.

Tlie Kings of the Reefs, 247

Drifting swiftly, strangely from me ;
Then a change came o'er my glor}-,
Change I saw in water mirrored ;
Saw, and lo, my beauty faded.
Whereupon, I turned with loathing,
From a form which men, despising.
Would not honour, would not worship,
Turned and chose another body.
Took a shrine, whose name and visage.
Fear-inspiring, men shall honour."

Here the priest-instructed Scru,
Silent, hastened to his people ;
Who his orders straight obeying,
Fetched the fruits from out the garden ;
Brought him other things and precious ;
Which to priest the prince presented.
For Ndengei, the Father spirit.
Great and mighty god of Viti.

Then the news like arrows travelled,
Far and near among llie i)eople ;
Not a tribe but caught it passing ;
How that Seru, prince ol Mbaulaiul,
Had by all the gods been favoured.
Hence let all liis foes, repenting,
Bow before the gods ot Seru.

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' fpWE Pwj^IY ^RIBES.

OW to fun and recreation ;"

Said the prince to chieliy comrades ;
" We have pleased the priest and spirits,
Let us to the sea a-hshing."
So to fishing off they scampered.
'Twas their habit ahiiost daily,
Out upon the shallow places,
Lying 'twixt the isle and mainland,
Or, upon the reefy patches,

'Tween the kingly isle and Viwa,

When the tide was quickly ebbing,

There to swim, and wade and flounder.

Round the many mazy windings,

Of the reed-built traps, the fences.

O what glee and shouts and laughter,

Broke from all the youthful heroes,

As they chased and shot the fishes,

\\ ith their fishing bows and arrows.

Kings of the Reefs. 249

Or with deadly spears transfixed them !

Then anon, the centre reachinj^',

They would capture all the city,

Bear the finny tribes, triumphant,

To the beach beyond the houses ;

Light the festal hres and roast them.

Seru ne'er forgot those battles.

When he went not to the fences,

With his 3'outhful brave attendants.

He and they would often angle,

Sittino[ on the stony bulwarks

Firmly planted round the island,

As a break 'gainst stormy waters.

There the live-long day rejoicing,

They would watch their lines, and chatter,

Telling tales to one another.

Seru's tales were full of wisdom ;

He had heard them when at Rewa.

One there was the boys delighted ;

'Twas a treat to hear him tell it.

" Fishes big and little trembled,

When they saw the woeful danger,

Lowered into their dominions.

Said they, when they came together,

' How shall we escape the trouble ?

How shall we go out a-swimming ?'

250 Kings of the Reefs.

Spoke each speaker to the (juestion ;
Answeietl each, as each was able.
But at hist, swam u)"* inlhited,
One whose name was Ra Kasala ;
One who proved their wisdom folly;
Who himself was wise in speaking,
But in action, wondrous foolish.
Said he to his spell-bound hearers,
* If }ou would escape the danger.
If you must go out a-swimming,
If you would come back to see us,
O be sure you never nibble,
Never bite the bait so tempting.'
Thus he spoke, when down beside him,
Dropped the danger newly baited;
Seeing which, poor Ra Kasala,
Was the first to swim and nibble.
Bite and swallow to his ruin.
Then the fishes all decided.
They had found another danger,
'Twas to preach like Ra Kasala ;
Preach, yet not observe your preaching."

So to-day among the people,
' Tis a wise and chiefly saying,
"Do not preach like Ra Kasala."

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>iiii^iii<

ilt-^NY tyrants ruled in Viti,

®^
^f:^l^ But of all, the greatest tyrant,

Was the prince's hated father.

iwKZ!c_zsr>>^^^Ji3^ Not a chief that loved Tanoa

fe-T-rnn;^w>^ Could be found \\\ all the islands.

Mbau itself conspired against him ;

Save a few designing nobles,

With retainers, tried and trusted,

Who in secret bravely waited.

For a leader bold to lead them,

'Gainst the gods of revolution.

Warned betimes the king departed,

Fled to Ovalau and Koro ;

Thence to kingly Somc^somo.

Foes in chase were friends in earnest ;

So they failed to overtake liim,

Turned, and came to Mbau, (kispainiig.

Here a tool, a weak prc;Lender,

The Kings of the Reefs.

Tried to wield the Nation's sceptre ;
While the brave and chiefly Mara
Took the field and led the rebels.

Seru all the while was quiet ;
Knowing all, but doing nothing
To arouse the rebels' anger.
Onl.v fishing, swimming, gaming,
Working often in his gardens ;
Going forth with stalwart comrades,
Princes tall, himself the tallest,
To the peaceful tiiigga matches ;
Where, amid the people's plaudits.
Rivals threw their reeds, competing ;
Tr)ang who should throw the farthest.
All admitted Seru's power,
Whether fishing, swimming, throwing,
Planting yams or choice bananas.
Work he never thought beneath him.
All would wonder at his stature.
Wonder at his graceful movements,
Wonder at his self-possession ;
Wonder also at his silence.
Speaking never of his father,
Xever of the nation's troubles.
None suspected what was in him,

The Kings of tJie Reefs. 253

Of the wisdom of the serpent;
Yet his father's foes dishked him.
Still he closely kept his secret,
Never showing what was in him ;
Only gathering round him friendships,
For the day he knew was coming.
When he would his mind discover.
Oft at night with brave ones present.
Ere the kava drink was ready,
He would tell heroic stories,
That he might his heart encourage.
That he might his friends embolden.
But his wise intent, they knew not,
For the day of mortal conflict
With the rebels, then in power.
One there was with glee he told them ;
'Tis a caution stern to cowards.

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NCE rebellion hot and burning,
Rose against a mighty hero,
Who his soldiers marched to crush it.
Only once his servants failed him,
Through the want of manly courage.
But he taught them such a lesson,
Warring men, whene'er they hear it,
Say it well and rightly served them.
He had placed them in the war-path.

In advance of all his army,

Hidden where the foe must pass them ;

Told them, there, at given signal,

Up to rise, and win the battle.

Each and all with cheer they promised,

They, that day, would do their duty.

On the foemen came with shouting.

Bearing high their deadly weapons ;

The Kings of the Reefs. 255

But the ambush lay in silence,

Never moving foot nor finger.

On and on, and ' Now my heroes.

Up like men and do your duty ;

Up, and smite the foe with vengeance.'

Still the soldiers lay in silence ;

Though they knew the chieftain's signal.

Gone was all their boasted courage ;

Come was all the fear of cowards.

* There in everlasting silence,
Bide ye ;' said the chief in anger ;

* Blocks of stone ye are, and shall be.
Never moving, foot nor finger.'
There to-day with dread we see them,
On Kandavu's fruitful island;

See the silent craven warriors.
Petrified and cold and speechless ;
Dead, yet speaking to the living,
Of the weakness of the coward.
Of the might of god-like courage !''

When the ]")rince had told the stor\-,
Men there were who whis}K;rc(l firmly.
In their }'outhful pride of countr)-,
" Mbauans never shall be cowards."

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§TaR.T[aES THE I^KTIOJ^IS.

■ '^W~~'

cS^i;; IME went on, and so did plotting;
$|§f- Till, one day, the prince uprising,
^b- From his mat of ease and comfort,
Issued forth to tree majestic,
"^X: 'Neath whose shade a drum was standing,
^^r^^U^ Which had often waked the city;

Now to feasts and demon orgies ;
Now to war and fearful havoc ;
Now to victory's stirring triumph.
Seru grasped the sticks with firmness,
Struck the drum, and thrilled the nation.
'Twas a challenge to the rebels.
Round him rushed his bold companions,
'Mong them brave Verani, boldest ;
Round him came the Lasakauans ;
Rewa rose, his cause befriending.
Quick, the rebels fired their muskets ;
Quick, a;.the men of Seru answered.

The Kings of the Reefs.

257

Straight, the darts of fire were flying,
Through the mean pretender's quarters.
Soon, the rebel fort was burning.
Soon it lay, reduced to ashes ;
And the rebels, panic stricken,
Fled the heat and strife of battle.
Fled the long divided island.
Leaving youthful Seru master.
Home Tanoa came in triumph !
Crushed were all the foes but Mara,
And the rebels, slain in battle.
Offered to the Spirit-fathers,
Of the high and mighty Seru.

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ss^^ltAKA fortified Namata* ;
c©:^ Beat the troops of Mbau and Rewa ;
<i>5 Once, and yet again, he conquered ;
^®^5^ But at last, allies he trusted,
■">."^f-t@^'),^ Foully slew him unsuspecting.

When thev showed their vile intentions,

im-

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Rose in force with guns to shoot him,

Mara faced them like a hero ;

Looked them in the eye, unflinching ;

Filled their coward souls with terror ;
Held them spell-bound, hesitating,
By his brave and noble bearing.
Then in numbers they attacked him.
Clubbed him with their clubs and muskets.
Cut and hacked him with their hatchets ;
But he fought them like a tiger.
Never dreaming of surrender ;

* An important stronghold on the mainland.

The Kings of the Reefs, 259

Till, at last, he fell like Ca?sar ;
Wounded sore with mortal woundinfr :
Leaving Seru still the victor.

Seru won renown and o-jory ;
Also won suggestive titles.
Which his friends and foes awarded,
Names, to tell to coming ages.
How he made his mark in history ;
How he rose so soon to power.
"Turtle-pond," " Na Mbi," they named him;
For his deeds had filled the ovens,
With the flesh of human turtles.
Named him also " Thikinovu,''
" Centipede," in action secret,
Biting when you least expect it.
Ere you know its place of hiding.
" Thakombau," they likewise called him ;
"For," said some who could not meet him
On the open Held of battle.
Nor could compass his destruction.
By the arts of vile assassin.
So witli bitter speech must smite him ; —
" Mbau through him lias comi^ to luiii.
Mbau is bad, be)'ond rc;d('mpti()n,
Through his ta})j:)ing with the drum-sticks."

26o

The Kings of the Reefs.

Mhaii was had, no doubt, and wicked ;
So was he, its dashing chieftain;
But if other chiefs liad concjuered,
What but evil could have happened,
In the age when most were vicious,
And the rulers all were tyrants ?

I^EMOVW(a fH*Oaj<lTKlJ^S.

4 ¥ fc

ERU'S was a name of magic,

Everywhere throughout the islands.
Black men trembled as they spoke it ;
White men praised its dauntless owner,
And, when fain to win his favour,
Gave him stores of ammunition.
All acknowledged him the ruler,
Though his father kept the title.
Chieftains, talking in his presence.

At the chiefly evening meetings,

Held in honour of his contjuests,

Spoke in terms of adulation,

And with words of smoothness flattered ;

Told him he would be a hero

God, of matchless might and wisdom.

Beating Ono's god, Tanovo ;

Who, the legends say, the mountains

262 The K'uv^s of the Reefs.

Mo\ch1, aiul in;in\" islos crecited,

In ilu' chus of aiiririU Y'ili,

Wlu'ii llic Oiiii kinL;s were rulers.

" Tell the story," ordered Seru,

Speakini;' to a noted Talker,—

Not the onv who told the legends,

To Naulivou, departed,

When the nameless white man listened ;

He was dead, but not forgotten ;

Gone to plant the tarawau* tree

In Xaithombothombo eountry,

W'henee the spirits pass to Hades —

So the Talker, greatly honoured,

Told the tale of Ono's hero.

" God Tanovo reigned in Ono.
Great ambition ruled his spirit,
Led him, step by step, to travel,
From his hills so low, to highei,
To his neighbour's highest mountain,
. Known to all as Bukelevu.

Oft, when spell-bound, gazing at it.
He would say, himself addressing,

* The tarawau (Dracontomelon sylveutre, Blum.) is a large tree bearing tough fruit, often
eaten by the natives. In Spirit-land there are many " fara2«a«" trees, said to have been planted
by departed spirits. This is one of their duties, hence "he is gone to plant tarawau" means,
" he is dead."

The Kings of the Reefs. 263

' I must climb it, bring it lower,
Crush its pride and make it humble ;
'Tis too high, and too aspiring,'

" So, in time, he gathered round him.
All his mighty men of valour.
Led them forth and up the mountain.
'Twas a long and toilsome journey ;
But his bold example cheered them.
At the top he told his secret ;
'Twas that each should do as he did.
So, at once, from out the forest.
Choosing well a stake for digging.
Which he chopped, and shaped, and pomtcd
There upon the mountain summit,
He began the earth to loosen ;
As did likewise all his servants.
While they dug the mountain downward,
Earth and stones went swiftly rolling.
To the land, and town and palace,
Of Tautaumolau, the ruler,

" Who, on looking towards the hill Lo]),
Saw the stout and bold invader.
With his host of hero workmen,
Di'r<fin<r down his noble mountain,

00 o

264 ihf Kiiii^s of the Rctfs.

Filliiii;' willi llu- carlh ihcir baskets;

Saw tluMTi lift tluan to llicir shoulders ;

Marcli in order down the gorges.

' See,' the local ruler shouted,

To his people coming round him ;

' They are digging down our mountain ;

Bringing low its pride and glory !

Give them chase and drive them from us ;

Smite the impudent invaders ;

Stop their shameful depredation ;

Save our big and fruitful Yam-hill.'*

" Forward, steady, all unheeding,
Marched the laden, fierce invaders ;
Bearing in their monster baskets,
What had erst been sun-lit crown-lands.
In that ancient march of wonders,
Went Tanovo and his giants.
Throwing, here and there, to seaward,
Earth they took from off the mountain.
Hardly had the heroes done it,
When from out the ocean rising,
Lands, unknown before ascended ;
Whence have grown — O fruitful sowing ! —
All the islands round Kandavu,

* Bukelevu, the great Yam-hill.

The Kings of the Reefs. 265

Matanuku, Vuroseva,
Yamba, Mbala, and Yaukuvi ;
Ndravo, and Vanuakula ;
Also as the ancients tell us,
Many more, both big and little ;
Thirty is the total number.

'' On those island builders travelled,
Till their leader reached the ocean,
Where canoes spread sail for Re\va.
Outward there Tanovo waded.
Till his baskets both were empty ;
Then he stopped, his men addressing,
* Now the sea our clothes is wetting,
Let us turn our faces homeward.'
Then he threw his baskets seaward.
And, from where they sank in water.
Up there grew the rock of Solo*
Known so well to every seaman.
Who with gladness, or in sadness,
Tells of men that deftly 'scaped it,
Or were broken by its breakers."

"Good," said Seru, when he ended,
" We will often hear thy talking.

Solo is the name of a very danRerous rock lyinfi off Ono, one of tlio Kanduvn Rroiip of islnmi.'^

266

The Kings of the Reefs.

When our «;re:it canoe is linishcd,
W hen slie conies from Somosonio,
Where her builders wise and skilful,
Have for vears her frame been building,
When we board the ' Ka Marama,'
' Queen of wangkas,' Viti's vessels,
When we hoist her sail to sail her,
Thou shalt with us on the ocean;
Thou shalt tell us other stories."

Here the princes, full of wonder,
Cried " Kalou ! a god is Seru !"
And the people shouted " Ndina !"
"True!" and clapping hands to greet him,
Uttered loud their salutations.

m^e:

W% P^ P% ^^;^-

•-<i^

S/^eWEkOKS, SeW?\RE!

""■■■■I^llllln

ALKING in the prince's presence,
Once an ancient, bold and cannv.
Spoke of men who never marry ;
Told the things that overtake them,
In the hidden spirit kingdom,
In the state where men are tested,
Ere they pass to chiefly regions.
Said he, ''Men arc dail)- dying;
Passing hence beneatli the ocean,

To the realm of greatest heroes.

When a chief is thither welcomed.

He is challenged by the rulers ;

If a married lord, he passes ;

But if single, woe betide him !

He is ordered by officials,

On the path of fools to travel ;

'Tis a road of scenic wonders ;

26S The Kiiii^s of the Reefs.

Hill iiul il lie, and woody valley,
Rocky heights and duu^'iii;- waters,
hardens full ot" fruits and ilowers,
Temples, houses in the distance,
Shadv -greens with dancers on them,
Ever\- charm to draw him onward ;
Till, when full before him, dreadful,
Stands a mountain, fear inspirinij^.

" While he gazes at it awestruck,
Lo, it leaves its base, and rises
Slowly upward towards the heavens ;
Then, with swiftness, rush upon him
Spirit-chiefs, who take and bind him,
Lav him down beneath the mountain ;
When, () horror! straight descending.
Comes the awful weight upon him;
Like a world it falls, and Hattens,
Crushes dead his selfish nature !
Where he next appears 'tis doubtful.
All who hear the truth should ponder,
'Tis a lesson for our heroes.
Let unmarried ones bethink them.
Lest they die, and lonely travel,
To the spirit-crushing mountain !"

Seru silent, heard and pondered.

The Kings of the Reefs. 269

Acted on the timely lesson.

While he waited for his vessel

Promised long, and long in coming,

He to marriage gave attention ;

Took him wives in goodly number ;

But the queen of all his harem,

Was the lady Samanunu,

Sweet in temper, wise in counsel.

Equal to her high position,

Equal to the wifely duties.

That should make a strong alliance,

W'^orking good for Viti's future.

.^^

©>1E \}Dj^I1TE pROPWET.

. .-T,\. \,'\.\^'\. \^

HILE the great and miglity Seru,
^<,|^ In the crowded island city,

Gloried in his fights and conquests,

Gloried in the people's plaudits,
'^*ii^"'fN^T''-*T'*3^''c?~"^ Gloried in his commo; vessel,

-ili

Gloried in his charming harem,
[^ Gloried in his Samanunu ;

I Lo, the unexpected happened,

f Right upon the scene appearing,

Came a noble-minded white man,
Came a pious Christian prophet.
Speaking in respectful language,
He had learned in other islands,
He reported to the Chieftain
Why his coming, what his message.
"Sire," he said, the greetings ended,
" Tidings glad and true, I bring you.
'Tis of peace, good will, and mercy,

Tlie Kings of the Reefs. 271

From Our Father, God in Heaven.
I would tell it to your highness,
I would tell it to your people,
I would tell it to their children.
Only let me live among you,
I will teach it to all comers,
Who to Mbau shall come with tribute,
Come to recognise your ruling.
This is what I come to ask you ;
Let me, under your protection.
Have a house and home in Mbauland,
Then the tidings glad I'll carry,
To the little isles and big ones,
To the tribes along the mainland,
To the inland folk and mountains.
Wheresoe'er your land is talked of,
There I'll tell the love of Jesus
Sent by God, our common l"\ither,
From our sins and woes to loose us.
There I'll tell the old, old story.
Oldest, and yet aye the newest.
Ever published to the nations ;
For, though often it has sounded,
In the ears of men that jierish.
Yet to them who hear, b('lieving,
Like the evergreens around us,

272 The Kings of the Reefs.

'Tis a tliini; of youthful freshness;
'Tis llic ]ov of life for ever."

** Good," " Vinaka ;" answered Seru,
In his proud and chietiy manner ;
" Good, 'tis very good your coming,
I have heard from Lau* your doings;
Heard about your Faith, the Lotu ;
But I must be honest with you ;
Vavalangi, you should know it,
You from far beyond the border,
Where the sea the heavens carry.
You should know my honest thinking,
Ponder all my words in earnest.
I am full of wars and ruling ;
Busy with my fleets and gardens ;
Cannot listen to your teaching ;
Could not, if you came among us.
Guarantee you perfect safety."

Hearing this the Christian prophet
Full of sorrow, turned from Seru ;
After forms and words respectful.
Well approved in chiefly circles.
Took his leave and went to Rewa;

* Lau, the Windward Islands, where the white prophet first landed and laboured.

The Kings of the Reefs. 273

Where he Hved and taught the people.
'Twas a loss to Mbau, and soreness
Many years to haughty Seru ;
Who in wounded pride and anger,
Wondered why the Lotu prophet
Failed to understand his speaking,
Failed to see his real meaning,
Which, as after years revealed it.
Was that he should live in Mbauland,
Only not expect assurance,
Which no ruling chief could give him,
In the times of wily plotting',
That his life was not in danger.

After many months of waiting,
Nothing daunted, came the prophet.
Came and spoke to King Tanoa ;
But the old and wary chieftain,
Told him Mbau was full of people.
Who in many thmgs were foolish,
And might steal his goods and chattels.
But the prophet answered calmly,
'"Tis a little thing to keep me '
From my great and peaceful mission.
I shall never fear the peo})lc ;
If you let me dwell among them,

274 ^^'^' Kings of the Reefs.

I shall \o\c lluMii ; tlicy will bear mc."
Then the kini;- in j-ilainer speaking,
Fearing most the mighty Seru —
Who, although his son, was ruler,
Stoutlv ruling all the nation —
Told the prophet not to ask it ;
Such a thing could not be granted.
So the good man turned to Viwa',
Gem of calm and sunny waters,
Covered thick with trees of bread-fruit.
And with tall and blooming chestnut.
From whose blossoms flows a fragrance.
Scenting all the hills and valleys.
With a rich and pleasant odour.
Here the prophet taught the people ;
Told them of the God in Heaven.

Time w^ent on, and then the prophet
Called again on awful Seru ;
Who w^as stouter now^ than ever,
In his firm determination,
Not to let the white man enter
Mbau, the place of gods and temples.
" See," said he, to seaward pointing,

• Viwa, a beautiful little island a short distance from Mbau, and, at that time, the
residence of powerful chieftains, who had great influence over many of the mainland tribe?.

The Kings of the Reefs. 275

" See yon rock above the water ;
When you grow the taro on it,
Which we eat with so much rehsh,
I will let you live among us ;
I will listen to your message ;
I will serve the God in heaven,
Who, 3^ou say, in mercy loves us ;
Never else will I be Christian."

Then the prophet left the city ;
Weeping in his heart for Scru ;
Grieving for the stricken people.

Then the people when they heard it,
When they knew their youthful chieftain
Would not let the prophet teach them,
Would not let him dwell among them,
Were divided in opinion ;
Some approved and others censured ;
Others bowed their heads in sorrow,
Saying softly in their houses,
" Men of age who saw the prophet.
Tell us he reminds them greatly.
Of the skilled and nameless white man,
Who, when dying, told our fathers.
That in ' Langi,' in the heavens.

276

The Kings of the Reefs.

Owolls the God wc ought to woisliip.
Oh, if he might sta\- in IMbauhmd,
lie- \\\uild tell us :ill the meaning
Of his brother's parting message."

Prophet gone, and people saddened,
Seru heedless, stern and haughty,
Turned to feasting on his rivals ;
Turned to take revenge on foemen ;
Turned to duties crowding on him.

-=^o§>-

(bME ^llEEjq ©?^jqOE.

ORTUNE comes at last, the guerdon
Of a long and patient waiting.
So, in time, the chiefly present
Came to Seru, brought by princes,
From the Somosomo country.

On a day for aye eventful,
Came his henchman glad, reporting ;
" Sire," he said, in humble manner,

Yet in tones bespeaking pleasure,

" Swiftly up the Mbauan channc^l

Comes a large canoe with streamers."

"What canoe, and whence her coming?"

Seru (juestioned of his servant.

" Cannot tell, sir, you will know' lu;r,

If from Vatumundre's country,

You will tell us," said the s]-)eaker.

" Let us to the beach," said Seru.

KING TANOA, SERU S FATIIEU.

Tlic Kings of the Reefs. 279

Then the chief and courtier, rising,
Wound their way amongst the houses,
Till they reached the stony bulwarks.
There, with Ovalau l)ehind her.
And the isle of Moturiki,
Came the Queen-canoe of Viti,
Came the promised Ra Alarama.
Seru knew her by her streamers,
Knew her by her size and manner,
Knew no other vessel like her.

On she pressed, the breezes filling
All her great expanding mat-sail,
Bounding gaily o'er the water.
Crowded were her decks with heroes,
Longing for the feasts of Mbauland,
Longing for its songs and dances,
Longing for its mirth and gladness.
When, restraint of landing customs
Gone, a licence should be given.

Seru knowing 'twas the vessel.
Turned to gi\'(; liis chicll)- orders,
For his festal j)rL'paratioiis,
For his welcome to the strangers.

28o TJie Kuii^s of the Reefs.

Closer in, the vessel's seamen
Acted all their parts like chieftains.
Every law and regulation,
Binding on canoes incoming,
Was obeyed with strict observance.
Far away the sail was lowered ;
'Twas respectful to the nation,
To its mighty gods and heroes.
After long and tiresome wading,
Chiefly men the palace reaching,
Bowed, salaamed in abject manner f
Then reported all the passage,
From the day they left their island.
Then, in servile imitation.
Of the ancient swimming seer,
Went about as shipwrecked seamen.
Yet were not, for o'er the water,
Gods they served had safely brought them
On their hero master's business.

Ancient rites and usage over.
All were free to follow pleasure ;
Free to let the Mbauans treat them
In a kingly Mbauan fashion.

Seru, anxious, asked the strangers.

The Kings of the Reefs. 281

Ere he made his banquet ready,

If the gods had been respected,

While the vessel was in building,

Had her master-builders ofTered

Sacrifice for her protection,

'Gainst the perils of the ocean,

'Gainst the reefs, and waves, and tempests?

Had they sought the spirits' favour,

That the great canoe might prosper,

Beat in swiftness other vessels.

Live in seas where others perish ?

Then the Somosomo chieftains
Answered, "Sire, she is protected ;
When her keel was laid in sections.
Joined in one by careful scarping,
Many men were slain as offerings,
To propitiate the spirits.
And insure her long protection
From the dangers of the ocean.
While her sides were slowl}' rising,
Other slaves were killed and offered.
But of late, the law demanding
Sacrihce has been neglected."

Seru answered in bis ardour

ji>j Tiu Kinf[s of the Reefs.

Vox llic ^ods and Lcniplc service,

l'\>i ilie vessel's speed ;ind safety ;

" Sliaiij^e her cliieftains were so chary.

Al her hiuncliing, skives in numbers

Sliould luive been her living rollers,

0\er which from land to water.

Stalwart men with vigour pushing,

Should have sent her boldly forward,

Bounding like the Rongovoka,

Pushed by giant Roko Ua.

When she made her trial voyage.

Whatsoever port she touched at,

Blood oi men to spirits ofiered,

Should have washed her decks like water ;

And their tlesh, when priests had blessed it,

Been the luscious food of heroes.

That the law has not been followed,

Makes me wonder at her builders.

Yet, we ought not much to wonder.

Seeing how, at Somosomo,

Vcm have listened to the prophet,

Who has told you all the story

Ul his Father, God m Heaven I

\ ou have listened to the white man,

And have shunned to do your duty ;

Hence the ' (Jueen ' is unprotected.

The Kings of the Reefs, 283

Why should we, the chiefs of Viti,
Hearken to the foreign teachers ?
Have we not our priests and temples,
And the gods our fathers worshipped ?
These for ever let us follow.
And be deaf to every white man."

When the chieftain thus had ended,
And the plaudits all been given,
One, a noble sailor, speakiiig,
Said, "We go the mast to lower,
Bring the vessel in and berth her,"
" Go, 'tis good," said lordly Seru.

Then to trusty servant turning.
Said he firmly, " Take my message
To the Chief Ngavindi ; tell him
All my mind to do with swiftness."
As he went there came a chieftain
From the " Queen," the Ra Marama,
Saying, speaking low with sadness.
Sadness that betokened mishap,
" When the mast was being lowered,
Lo it slipped and killed a seaman ;
Struck aside and wounded others."
Seru smote his thigh in silence.

js^ The Kitties of the Reefs.

Then, the silence sin.irlly hrc.ikin^-,
Said, in words of wiMlhlul speaking,
** What besides could l)e expected ?
'Tis the gods are still offended."

Mere ho sent a second servant,
To Ngavindi, chief purveyor^,
Taking strict and awful orders
For abundant sacrifices.

Then the great and dreadful butcher,
Did his master's utter bidding ;
Hunted, captured men and women,
Twenty-one in all, the number,
Which the gods of Mbau accepted ;
Then the Somosomans feasted.

Thus the vessel got her clearance,
Thus from evil got assurance.

_^T TWE MEhU.

'^W

^|;^ LL the sacrificing ended,

With the nightly unclean orgies,
During which the sunny island
Was a meeting place for demons,
Seru turned his mind to sailing.
With a crew of able seamen.
Aided by his stalwart comrades,
Up he hoisted sail for Koro.
O'er the bay of matchless beauty.
With its coral world of wonders,
Where the fish, the rightful owners,
Decked in rich and dazzling colours,
Sport themselves in endless frolic.
Sped the Queen of Vessels, seaward.
Soon she passed the mighty passage,
Of the ancient fabled swimmer ;
Soon was dashing o'er the purple,
Undulating floor of water ;

The Kifii^s of the Reefs.

W'hilo luT cliicfs and priiucs siiiLjint;,
ClapjH'd llu'ir haiuls In lime lluir sin^iiii;
With tlif cadence of the oci'an.

When the waves their froh'e sobered,
Talkiiif^ took the \)\acc of sin<^inc^.
Seru's newK chcxscn l^dker,
I\no\vin,i; he would j^lease liis cliieftain,
Introduced his talk by saying,
" You liave heard it, chiefs and princes,
^'ou have lieard the news astounding,
That from Mbau, the Christian prophet
Went to dwell among our neighbours ;
Went to tell his ancient stories
( )f the foreign God in Heaven.
(jood his going, weep we will not ;
We have stories from the ages,
When the lands were full of people,
^'ou shall hear them, they are precious."
Then the blithe and favoured Talker
Opened out his box of fables ;
Told them (^f the Father spirit.
Great Ndengei, and all his battles
With his rcbjl, hero children.
Who his favourite bird destroyed,
Killed his faithful Turukawa*

Turukawa, was the sacred dove of the great god Ndengei.

The Kings of the Reefs. 287

Told them of his floods that chased them,
Far from home to distant kingdoms,
Banished, ne'er again to see him.
Then, the great canoe beholding,
As she bore them, flying onward.
Changed his tale, to one befitting
Work and pleasure on the water ;
Told them of the Rongovoka,
Of her giant Roko Ua.

t>^

When he landed safe on Koro,
And was sitting with his chieftains,
After evening meals were over,
Then he told them of the god-ship,
And her brave and cheery captain,
Who to Koro came with presents,
Greeting Viti's chiefs and people ;
Told them of the nameless white man ;
Told them strange exciting stories ;
Till he ceased, with praises covered.
Then his hearers in their sleeping,
Dreamed they heard him talking ever.
But 'twas not the Talker talking ;
'Twas, as sleep was sound or fitful.
But the reef with thunder growling,
But the wavelets in the harbour.

The Kifii:s of the Reefs.

\\\\v\\ llu- fiHul was i^vtlin,;; scanty,
Theii liu' Mbauan vessel, lacUn
With the priuluee of the gardens,
Turned her jmow a,i;ain to wnslward,
(ihdcd o'er the Koro waters.
As she went in ]-)eaeeful manner,
Mbauan chieftains moved tlie Talker,
Legends old to tell them ciuiekly,
\\vc the breezes light should freshen.
So he told them of the seer ;
Of his mighty feat in swimming ;
Of the way he won the favour
Of the Mbauan chiefs and heroes.

He had just his story finished,
When the sail aback was driven.
Through a sudden gust that struck it,
And the helmsman's tardy steering.
Scru gave his orders calmly,
While he rose and took the rudder,
" For a change," he said, " from lounging,
Doing nothing in the deck-house."
Soon the danger great was over ;
But another quickly followed.
Seru saw it coming ere he
Rose to rest himself by working.

T]ie Kings of the Reefs, 289

Waves were rolling up from windward ;

Breezes threatened heav}^ weather;

Squalls increased in strength and frequence.

Seru firmly held the steer-oar,

While his heroes worked the vessel,

As his orders prompt directed.

B)^ and b}/, when squalls were fewer,

And the stormy sea was smoother,

Spoke a chieftain to his comrades :

" Not to us he'll leave the steering.

Not to us he'll leave the sailing

Of the ship in times perplexing ;

See, where now he stands so grandly

Steering, like a master steersman.

Safe in Mbau, to-day he'll land us,

Ere the evening meal is ready."

Said the comrade quick, replying,

" All the blows are not yet over,

And the rollers near the passage

Hard will try the deftest steersman."

Till the reef its thunder sounded,
Till the foam displayed its whiteness.
All along the mighty bulwarks,
Which defend the Mbauan waters,
Till the opening through the coral,

Th<- K !>!':< of the Rce/s.

\lo\e in si.L;lu 'lu-ath lifting; sc.-i-niist,

Tlicro tin- iliii't'l;iin bravely slaiulinj^^

Held tlic (Kir. and steered the vessel ;

Steered her stead}- tlnoii.t;!! the }Kissage,

Taken hv the swimming; seer,

In the ,i;rcy old days of legend.

Then the chief, to do the steering

I'p the channel to the city,

Ordered aft a princely helmsman.

Saying, as he passed to midships.

To his matted, shady quarters,

** All our foes are left behind us,

Beaten bv the art of sailing.

All our friends are looking for us,

In the isle of gods and heroes.

Now our pennants will re}')ort us.

Soon we'll furl our sail and house it.

Soon we'll sail another vessel.

Ship of State, the Greater Viti."

Just when all the western mountains.
Were in richest colours painted.
Just when all their tops were golden,
With the sun's declining glory.
Just when all the sky to eastward,
Donning was her dusky mantle,

The Kings of the Reefs.

291

Then the heroes furled their mat-sail,
Landed safe again in God-land ;
Marking in their trip eventful,
Starting point of Mbau's new story.

^SCG<i>R5c-,

&^^,
^

'HE 9r\lEJ<ID OF (^EKa.

BAU was waiting for its chieftain.
Business great of State importance,
Needed close and wise attention.
Deeds of his, which foes remembered,
Deeds of theirs, which he had treasured
In his mind, as inspirations
For the day of swift avengement,
W'itli events in neighbouring kingdoms,
Pointed to the nation's crisis.
More than Seru's arms and wisdom

Would ere long be surely needed,

Back to turn the Hood of trouble,

Soon to threaten all his ruling.

First among the many questions,
Which the chieftain had to answer,
Came the strange and new religion ;
Would he change his mind and have it ?

Tlie Kings of the Reefs. 293

Chieftains bold, who saw 'twas needed,
Asked their leader to bethink him,
And to alter his decision.
Samanunu spoke it favour.
In her kind and artless manner.
Then to see him, came from Viwa,
One who early gained his friendship.

It was not the Christian prophet.
Who to Mbau had been so often,
And so often gone, lamenting
Seru's unrelenting spirit.
He had died at Taviuni,
Saying to his friends around him,
While he had the strength to say it,
"Oh, 'tis best to be with Jesus."
There in Somosomo country,
Lies to-day his dust in waiting,
Till the trump of God shall wake it.

Seru wondered at the stranger.
At his height, and build and manner,
Thought him every inch a chieftain ;
Treated with respect his presence.
This perceiving, soon he told him.
Of the new and true religion.

294 ^ ^'^' ^'^"'A'*' ''^ ^/'t' RceJ^.

*' \\"li\ ," saul St-MU, mucli astonislicd,
" 'Tis llic ihiui; llu' j)it)plKl Lokl us ;
\'iui .iiul lu' agree loj^ether.
X'lU's priests in all ihini^s differ;
One says one tiling;, one another ;
All clicei\f us, henee we dread them,
Or we 1)U\ them for our juirpose."
Tlien tlie l-'riend of Seru answered,
"'Tis tlie same the prophet told you;
'Tis the best and gladdest tidings,
Ever j)ublished to the nations.
If we follow close its teaching,
We shall brothers be and loving.
It will build around us fences,
Like the reefs that wall \our islands :
And the evil things that slay us
Will be driven back, and broken."
" Good,'' said Seru, with a knowing
Look at one of Viti's weapons ;
" Hut in meantime, that's the tidings,
Back to drive and break and kill them,
" Sire," replied the faithful teacher,
" Lvils in the heart are conquered
Never by our clubs and muskets ;
But there is a weapon kills them ;
'Tis the love of God within us.

The Kings of the Reefs. 295

Teaching us to love our neighbour,

As ourselves we love, and always."

'* Yes ! But stay awhile and hear me ;

Ere I war with foes within me,

I must meet the foes without me.

Not for me is your religion ;

It may do for slaves and women,

But for chiefs and rulers, never !"

" Nay, Sir," said the kindly white man,

" Doing right exalts a nation.

Is it right to kill and murder

Peaceful subjects, men and women ?

Rulers aye should spare the people,

Be their fathers and their mothers.

'Tis the people make the nation.

Club the people, club the nation,

What becomes of all the rulers.

Who will dig and plant their gardens.

Build their houses and their vessels ?

Disregard the working people,

Right and left we cut the lashings

Of our great and queenly vessel ;

Thus destroying what was given

Safe to bear us through the tempests,

Through the dangers of the ocean."

" It were good," said Seru sternly.

Tfif Kittgs of Hit I\c'i'/s.

" IV'oplo i^onc, thr I'liiofs will lollow,
Ouickly slaying onv anollur ;
Then the wiulcl will soon be empty.
N\>w you know in\ mind and thinking,
Now, my friend, my words are ended."
•' Then, I go, sir," said the teacher,
•• Go to pray that God in kindness,
Soon your mind and heart may alter."
" Keep at that," in words sarcastic,
But in manner (juite politely,
Answered \'iti's irreatest chieftain.

sasHsasESHsgsHsasgsgsHsg jk

n5SH525H55SH5H5H5H525a525 '

J^ (^WEET^SYIdUM.

■■■■i^n • —

IWA's good and gentle teacher
Sadly left the city, praying
That the day may dawn when Sera
And his interesting people,
Smitten by their superstition.
Smitten by their demon worship,
Smitten by their heartless training,
Should, in earnest, try to follow
Christ, the people's Man and Brother.

Many times the friend of Seru,
Meek and childlike as his Master,
Yet with courage of a hero.
Landed on the stony landing
Of the proud and regal city.
There to seek the lofty chieftain.
In his youthful jM'ide majestic.

The Kings of the Reefs.

For a talk on reformation.

Hut llu' ilays ilcw by, and Scru

Chahj^cd not, nor tin- least relented.

Still the work, the zealous Christian
Sought to do, proceeded surel}' ;
Rescued some, and some awakened,
To bemoan their country's troubles.
Moral wreck and desolation.
Here and there, throughout the islands,
Princes, chieftains, priests, and commons,
Heard with jo}' the new religion,
Made It all their own, demanding
From their rulers rightful freedom
For themselves and children's children,
What and where and how to worship.

Not alone the Christian hero
Fought to save the struggling people ;
British Brothers, British Sisters,
Came with all their love and talents ;
Fought, with peaceful arms and lighting.
Fought, with truth and honest teaching,
Fought, by means of schools and printing.
Demon gods, and men, and systems.

Viwa's lovely little island,

The Kings of the Reefs. 299

Grew to be a sweet asylum,
For the early men and women,
Who, with changed and sunlit faces,
Turned for ever fiom pollution.

Seru, now the new -position,
Often pondered long and deeply.
Samanunu had his favour,
Had his ear, and well advised him ;
Told him how the nation's welfare
Was within his kingly keeping.
" Would it not," she said, " advance it,
If he often went to Viwa ;
Went to hear the white man's story ;
And, if good and wise he found it,
Let it come to Mbau and bless them ;
Thence to Mbauan isles and people."
Seru listened, went to Viwa ;
Saw his friend so wise and earnest ;
Listened to him with attention ;
Even more than once he promised,
Pie would turn and be a Christian,
At some future time propitious.
Now his duty plain was waiting.
Wars were looming near, and nearer ;
Should he live to sec them ended,

The Kiui^s of the Reefs.

\\c vvv)uKl opiMi Ml>;iu willi L^l.uliU'ss ;
lu'.u iho chum o( iitonn.aion.
Then llu' chieftain K-ft iho white man,
Saying, sometimes, to attendants,
"Ill's A man of U)ve and kindness."

Soon a cloud beshadowed Viwa.
Sickness smote the man of kindness ;
But he still remembered Scru ;
Told his brothers round him standing,
Straight to take the chief his message:
" Tell him that I love him greatly ;
Often bring to mind his promise,
That he would become a Christian,
Beat the drum for God and country."
Then the sickness gained upon him;
Laid him low for peaceful sleeping.
In the calm and wondrous sweetness,
Which bemantled all his spirit,
He had need be told 'twas dying.
Then he answered, when they told him,
'•If 'tis true that this is dying.
Pleasant 'tis to die, and easy,"
Thus the loving friend of Seru,
Passed in death, and saw not Viti's
Reformation, nor its chieftain's.

\^_^^^ ■4- 'K ^ ^ 4- 'T 'T '1^ "^r- "^ -T^ 4- 'r- '1^ -T^ -r- 'T 4- CTvv^ /

^ N a day when Seru, anxious,

Much perplexed with many troubles,
'Mong them, want of island riches,
For the wavering tribes around him,

^^1^ To his joy a fleet of vessels,

Nine canoes the passage entered.
'Twas Mbutoni's pirate vessels,
After many years of absence,
Coming home to Mbau, their city.

Soon they landed all their treasures ;

Wives and children, wealth abundant,

Cloth and nets, and mats and cordage ;

Fruits of unheroic conquests.

Dire oppression, done to weak ones,

Helpless tribes in lonely places,

Mbauans gave them princely welcome.

Being valued tributaries.

llw Kitv^s of the Reefs.

iiow to fcasl llicni in :i iiKinncr
That slu>uld raise the city's honour,
Taxed the rliieftain's utmost thinkin.i;.
Had they eonie when tribes were ii^htini;,
Not an oven had l)een empty.
Soon the ijuestion hard was settled
Hv a elan, that had to cater
l'\)r the first and opening banquet,
Bringinjj; human sacrifices,
I'or the temple-<;ods' acceptance.
Only two were slain and offered.
Then excitement, wild and dreadful,
Did its work amonj^ the Mbauans,
Who would j^ive a lordly banquet.
Seru, though, 'twas thought, reluctant.
Sent to Naselai his orders
I'^or the bodies for the ovens.
One was all the people sent him.
Then his word, to Chief Nggavindi,
Went commanding, " 'Tis your duty,
Mind you save our chiefly honour."
So Nggavindi, ordering vessels,
Sailed, by temple-priest attended,
On his master's secret business,
O'er the bright and peaceful water ;
Priest predicting, as they hastened,

The Kings of the Reefs. 303

Quick return, with food abundant.
Then Nggavindi answered sternly
To the temple-master's promise :
" First, we go to look for foemen ;
Failing, seek for any people,
Though they be our own and friendly.
Missing these, then who among us.
For the need of Mbau shall suffer,
Gods of Mbau will shortly show us,"
All their efforts near Nakelo,
Met with failure after failure,
Though they lay in ambush watching
For defenceless men, or women.
Changing then their course they coasted
Right away to Notho country.
Here Nggavindi, full of anger,
Told the priest and told him plainly,
That, if failure still pursued them,
Then his place should be an oven.
So the priest with larger promise.
Said, the gods would give them plenty ;
Bring a hundred to their vessels.

'Neath the overhanging mangroves.
Branches covering up the vessels.
There, the Lasakauans, (juiet,

T/w Km-s of the Reefs.

Walclunl ami waiU'd, stern aiul silent.

Soon the sound of \v\)incn's voices^

Told lliein now the prey was near them ;

Soon llu- women, lumtiiii;' shellfish,

Waded in the shallow water;

Soon, and then— oh, deed inhuman ! —

All were hound upon the vessels.

Ten .md four, the \ietims numbered.

Only one proteetor had the\-.

He, a father, fell defending

One he loved, his only daughter.

Let the nation ne'er forget him !

Then, in brutal triumpli, going,

Sailed the heartless buteher-chieftain

With his i-)riest and crew for Mbauland.

On they glided, shouting, clapping,

Singing to the dance of devils ;

Hearing from their home and country,

Helpless captives, girls and women,

Bruised and bleeding, for the shambles.

Wherefore, O thou mighty ocean !
Didst not leap thy walls in fury,
Break in vengeance all their vessels ;
Give to sharks the savage monsters ;
Then, in pity, on thy billows

The Kings of the Reefs.

305

Bear the bleeding stolen women
To th}- peaceful sh5res in safety ;
There to wake in Notho's dwellings,
Hear the story of their rescue ?

I , i3»-A—'fc-^'»b-j&'«&

..%..%

....^.......^. .0

-T- 'T' •T" 'T* 'r 'T' T^ I

WhiE 8i\iTisH Lister.;

- -^P"

■ "■'^fi^' '

N tlie morrow came a chieftain,
To tlie peaceful Isle of Viwa,
Asking for the British Sisters,
Who in Christian home resided.
V In their presence soon he told them,
Sh)\vly, by degrees and sadly,
All that made his heart so heavy.
" Ladies kind, I come to tell you
Something pressing on my spirit.
'Tis the holy Sabbath morning,

'Tis the day of praise and prayer.

In this happy little island.

Oh, if Mbau were only like it !

Listen, hear you not the drum-beat

O'er the water loudly sounding ?

Mark ! the beating makes me shudder.

'Twixt the slow and doomful thudding

Of the biggest drum in Mbauland,

TifcT

The Kings of the Reefs. 307

Sounds the wild and rapid rattle

Of the one that stands beside it.

When I left in haste the city,

Demons held the sticks, and used them

As they still are doing deftly ;

Filling all the land with terror."

Here the Sisters, pale and trembling,

Bade the chieftain tell them quickly,

Tell them truly what had happened.

"Tell us why the drums are beating."

Then Namosi, Chief of Viwa,

Told them of the captive women

Brought to Mbau before he left it ;

Told them of the black intention

Of the captors, who to slaughter

Doomed them for the coming banquet.

"When?" the Sisters asked him, "tell us!"

" In a day or two," he answered.

Adding, *' I shall know by sunset."

Now, Namosi was the chieftain

Who the King Tanoa chasing.

When he fled the Mbauan city,

Ably failed to overtake him.

All because he wished to save him.

Ever since they had been friendly ;

More, the brave and great Namosi

The K:nL:s of the Reefs.

Was a friend of rofDrnialitMi.
Hold as cvt'i", hv lould \isit^
Mhau. or leave it, iiolliinL; fVarinj;-,
Save llic jMince, wlu) never liked liini.
lie liad men to eonie and tell liini
Mhauan talk, and plans and secrets.
So, as lie had told the sisters,
Word was brou^dit him in the evening
That to-morrow all the captives
Would hv surely slain and offered
To the gods, before the temple.
When the Sisters heard the message,
Down they knelt in earnest pleading,
Asking God for His direction.
Then they said to Viwa's chieftain,
** Sir, be good, and on the morrow.
Kindly take us to the city."
" Good it is," the warrior anwered,
" I will take you on the morrow,
Take you to the dreadful cit}."

'^^^

-J, >L. >ir *1^ *1^ ^ ■^■J^>I''4' ■4''4''4''^

^ feid:e>l ^® ^hd

^<ia^

?OaT>i OF K)ElDk

^D^

OW the morrow's sun uprisin<^s

Shone on deeds that angels, seeing,
Knew not which to do with ardour
More impassioned, weep in sadness,
Or, admiring, sing dehghted ;
Weep in sorrow over demons,
Men imbruting ; sing with gladness
Over love and over mercy,
Going forth, in spite of danger.

Saying, '' Let us help the helpless !

Let us go and save the dying."

Early on the sunny mornings
Moving o'er the bay so peaceful,
Lo, a little craft with seamen,
Poling over shallow places.
Sculling over deeper waters ;

^lo i Hi i\.ni!;s of the Reefs.

C)n hor dtik ilu- hritish vSisters,

Viwa's chieftain i^oinj; willi ihcm.

Ilcadint;" straight tor Mhaii, tlic s;iiK)rs

Urj^id uilh will tlu' tarcl}" vessel,

Soon in lu)rrid wildncss sounded

Drums, and hooting shells and muskets.

With the piercing shrieks of women.

And the tumult loud of madness.

Wrought l)v passions wild, to fury,

As in tempest booms the ocean,

Shaking stoutest hearts and courage.

" Quicker," said the anxious Sisters,

" Oh ! be (piicker, men, and take us,

Haste us to the w'icked city ;

Lest, too late, we fail of dut)."

Then the men of will and sinew

Bent their hearts and bodies to it ;

Brought the vessel to the landing.

There a Christian chieftain waiting.

Said, his eyes with moisture filling,

" Oh, 'tis late your coming to us !

Most are slain, the others living,

Who shall save from dreadful slaughter ?"

Past him rushed the Viwa chieftain,
Past him sped the British Sisters,

The Kings of the Reefs. 311

Pale of feature, firm of purpose,
Through the rage of men inhuman,
Safe they went, by angels guarded,
To the mouth of hell, and entered.

King Tanoa woke bewildered,
Asking, in his great amazement,
" How is this, what next will happen ?
Why do women here disturb me ?"
Then the Sisters, all unheeding,
Placed their offerings on the matting ;
And the Viwa chieftain speaking
For them, told the aged monarch
That the British ladies present
Came to beg the lives of women
By the customs doomed to slaughter.
Then the king, yet more astonished.
Called a servant to him, saying.
As he gave an offering to him,
"Go, present it to Nggavindi ;
Ask him is it well to save them ?
Go, and bring me quick his answer."
Quick, the servant ran and brought it,
Brought the butcher-chieftain's answer,
" Yes, 'tis well, but ten are slaughtered,
One was begged by Seru's sister ;

7V'f /\*/'.'';< "/ ///( f\iifs.

Saniaiuinu bcj^^gcd aiiollu r ;
Three are living, — " We can save tlieni."
••l>r.ul are dead," the monarch answered,
•' I.rl the hidies lake tlie hving."'

Then tile British women rising,
Went and took tlieir (aptive sisters
I'Vom the butchers, gloating o'er them.

While the sisters sought their vessel,
Mbauan women crowded near them,
Blessed them, called them loving ladies ;
Pra}'ed them ne'er to be discouraged,
Ne'er to stop their work of mercy.
On behalf of Viti women.

■<gl!>S>-

(9-i'«^P^^f|5^Sqp^

m-.

m^^

-^'m^

— • m^i ■ —

g<p S the Mbauan king grew older,

As his warhke son grew bolder,
Times began to change in Viti.
White men came in greater number,
Traded, settled in the islands.
These by ships of war were followed.
Bringing chiefs of might and wisdom,
Sent from distant wealthy nations,
To protect their wandering subjects.
Those who came to princely Seru,

Gave him oft the wisest counsel ;

Begged him be a worthy leader ;

Do his best to crush the evils

That were killing chiefs and people.

British chieftains, good and noble,

Came, and heroes brave and friendly.

On whose swift and gallant vessels

Flag of stars and stripes was flying.

U-i The Kings of the Reefs.

i-iiKimg Si>iu in his city

(ilacl llu'V talked with him of Viti ;

Talked about his lather's weakness,

How that soon his death might happen,

Make him ruler of the kingdom.

Talked about the coming visit

Of the Somosomo princes.

Talked about the wars expected

With the jealous tribes around him.

"Do," they said, "When dies your father,

Set a new and good example.

Let the widow-strangling custom

Lapse, and never hnd observance

More in all your lovely islands.

When with guests your isle is crowded.

Do not hll the horrid ovens

With abhorrent sacrifices.

\\ hen you war with rival nations,

Grant surrendering foemen quarter ;

Order all to spare the wounded.

Be they kings or chiefs or commons.

Vou are able, none so mighty !

All the world awaits your action.

If with justice and with mercy,

Be your ruling, men will bless you,

' 1 will exalt your name and people ;

The Kings of the Reefs.

315

Foreign countries will admire you,
Rank you with the kingly rulers,
Who with right, not might, have laboured
To upraise their willing subjects."

WI])OW STKANClLINa.

Seru heard their words and pondered ;
Marked in all a strange agreement,
Each condemning Viti customs.
Each advisin<!: alteration.

Tht' Ki'>':<^ of (Jir Rrrfs.

lUit lo all he tirmly answoivd,

" All \our wisdom, l.iws, .iiul customs,

May be good tor those who need them —

What for one is good, for others

May, in ever)- wa)', be evil.

Much depends upon our training.

Widow-strangling is a custom,

Dear to every Viti chieftain,

Sought by every queenly widow.

Mbau will never be so wicked

As to let it lapse neglected,

W hen Tanoa sleeps, and passes

To the unseen world of spirits,

To the land of might)- heroes.

Should we dare despise his memory.

Send him lonely on his journey,

lie would angry be, and haunt us ;

Gods would thwart us, make us leprous.

Sorely wound us, wreck our vessels,

And on battle fields desert us.

No ! The chiefly wives selected.

Now await their lord's departure ;

When he goes they quickly follow\

Other matters brought before me

1 shall think of; this is settled."

flanacMDOoHouDiruooiiDOOoaDioiic nnnoiiDBiiiDiiGnaniDRbioiDflaooiiaor Honor iDU^^

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^WE §>PIKIT (/90RkD.

(^^

' "■•=%«

®o T an evening palace gathering,

Seru, seeking light on questions
Which of late his mind had troubled,
Asked an ancient priest to tell him
Things anent the world of spirits ;
Tell him what important duties
Should be done by men and women
In regard for friends departed.
Then the priest — a foe most bitter

To reform and change suggested

By the white friends come to Viti,

Whether Prophet, Friend of Seru,

British Sisters, British Brothers,

Or the chiefs of mighty warships —

Answered, pleased to be acknowledged :

" Princes irreat and hero nobles,

'Tis a subject grave and solemn.

The Kings of the Reefs.

\\\' sliould lu\ir it, and ivincmbcr.

In imr ituinlrv's early ages,

So our elever poets tell us,

Men ileparlecl in their bodies

To ilu- unseen spirit kin,<;dom ;

Now they leave the tlesh behind them,

Die, and let the living bury

All remains with forms respectful.

But awhile the spirit hovers,

After death, in watching places

Near his dwelling, where the living

Can be closely watched and w^orried,

If they once neglect their duty

To the souls from flesh departed.

" All the deeds of kindness finished,
P)V tlie kinsfolk of the absent,*
Then the watching spirit, gladdened,
Straight prepares for further travel ;
Seeks the tribal Thimbathimba,
Seeks the diving place of spirits,
Seeks adjacent reef or headland.
Whence he makes the leap with courage ;
Plunges bravely 'neath the ocean,
Swims and fights his way undaunted.

• Ko ira na yali, " the absent ones," the beautiful Fijian term for the dead.

The Kings of the Reefs. 3ig

If he be a hero chieftain,
He will call the spirit vessel, .
Call the great canoe to take him,
Take him safely on his journey.
All the dangers past or conquered,
Comes he to Naithombothombo ;^
Place of loyal salutation.
Where the new arrival, clapping,
Makes his most profound obeisance
To the kinp^dom and its rulers.

"b^

" Passing thence to open country,
He beholds a screwpine growing.
With its yellow fruit upon it.
If of low degree and common.
Up he picks the stones around him ;
But, if chief, he does not need them,
Having with him whale's teeth, pleiity, .
Which his friends at parting gave him,
At the fruit to throw and hit it.
Stones or teeth, he throws as man)^
As the number of his widows.
Then he aims to strike the pine fruit.
Counts the times he is successful,

* Thombothombo, the clapping of the hands crosswise, expressive of respect. Naithombothoinbo
is where disembodied spirits from all parts of Fiji come to greet the spirit-world and itscliicftains.

•20 The Kin^i^s of the Reefs.

And in f;l:idncss or in sorrow
Says, ' It is the count of widows
Tliev h.nc strangled for ni)- service'
Be tlie\- man)-, he's a chii-ftain
Wlu^n the sjtirit kin,i;s will honour.
Ho they only few in number,
Then lie is hut poor and little ;
If hut one he left behind him,
He's a slave that none will notice.

" I'urther on, to view his likeness
In the lake so clear and crystal,
Swift he goes, and looking downwards,
Lo, he sees himself still covered
With the sweat, and dust, and war paint,
With the blood of many battles.
Here the guards around him gather.
Lead to lakes of boiling water,
Cast him in to purify him.

''In this great and princely region,
^len are known by marks upon them.
Showing what the work that gave them
Names and standing 'mong their fellows.
Some are known as mighty planters,
Others, bold and clever seamen,

The Kings of the Reefs. 321

Great canoe and temple builders ;
Others famed for deeds of valour.
All are known, for all are branded
With the symbols of their calling.
So 'tis well, whate'er our duty,
Well to do it, and by doing,
Win the mark that speaks the wearer.
One whom gods delight to honour.

" Planted there for human spirits.
Gardens everywhere outstretching.
Give delight to all beholders.
Thither go the new arrivals.
Seeking fruit, the ripe bananas.
Should they nowhere find them ready,
'Tis a sign they came uncalled for.
Died before their fruit was mellow ;
Died from sad mischance or treason.
Foul or guilty self-destruction.

"Ages fled, the spirits gleeful.
Travel on and on, delighted.
To the cheerful land of music. '
ICntering there, the king conductor
Gaily leads his earth-born subjects
To the singing and the dancing.

:>--

Th(' Klurs of the Rec/s.

To [he endless rounds (^f pleasure,

Endless for the native j^rinecs,

Not for spirits come from Viti.

These do jtass, tlicir sojourn ended,

To tlie land of dark suspicion.

Where tlie kin.i^, with axe uplifted,

Follows every helpless spirit,

Whom he terrifies and crushes

With the dread that, any moment.

Crash may fall the blow destructive.

Hence, in Viti, all our rulers
Have a law of utmost wisdom,
'Tis that none behind a chieftain

Shall attempt to pass, presuming ;
Leave obtained, and body bench" ng,
He may venture, distance keeping.
Eveii then, that need to do it
There should be, proclaims the doer
Wanting thought and quick invention.
Else the deed he had avoided.
While within this awful province
Viti souls pursue their journey.
Hushed is all the song and music.
Done the dance and gone the moonlight ;
Never from the seas or mountains
Come the fresh and cooling breezes ;

The Kings of the Reefs.

323

Never floats from leaf or flower
Smell to cheer with wondrous sweetness.
Gloom, with fear of quick surprises;
Like a war fence round a village,
Circles every weary spirit.

CALLING A SOUL FOKTFI TO THE TilVfiK.

"Not for ever is the misery;
Though the blow be long in falling,
Fall it does and with a vengeance,
Sending him, the victim, fleeing
To the place of flnal resting,
Place of everlasting standing.

w».l

Tlw Kin^s of tlic Ut'fjs,

TluMV iho spirits sl.iiul tor over,
It" tlu'V will lo do it, restful,
Never, never oiue eonii>lainin,u;.
Should a spirit, restless .Ljnnvin^s
Seek to chaii^^e the upri,L;ht posture,
'Tis the law of Kin,-;- Lothia,
He shall lose his legs, and never
Know the life of deathless heroes."

^D^

J^^IhEN the priest had done his talking,

When the chieftains all had cheered him,
Seru sought his couch; but sleepless,
Asked himself the weighty question,
Asked, and answered, once and often,
"What from now shall be my ruling?
Shall I do as white men tell me,
Throw aside the old religion,
Or its guidance closely follow ?
Who can blame me, if, in steering

My canoe, I do it wisely.

Do it as my elders taught me?

White men do not understand us.

While the spirits live and watch us,

1 will do their utmost bidding.

Follow law and ancient usage.

When my father dies, his widows

Then shall die, and travel with him,

;j() The Kiu^^s of the Reefs.

1 luMu^h llic spiril-kint;d(.)in country.

1 can send lluni, 'lis in\- duty.

I am niii;iuy, wlio shall sta\- mc?"

Then the chieftain slept, and waking,
Heard the distant reef, in measured,
Mufllctl, solemn cadence moaning.
'Twas a sign that death was coming.
Club in hand, to smite a hero.
Then he slept again, and dreaming,
'Twas his father who was smitten,
While himself he thought, uprising.
Hurried out to do his duty.

Waking soon, no sound alarming
Came from either land or ocean
To disturb the sleeping city ;
Only, still the reef to seaward
Like a minute gun was booming,
Moaning deep and hollow meanings.
Token 'twas that death was busy
With a great and chieHy ruler.
And would soon demand his widows.

Very early on the morrow
Men were saying in their houses,

The Kings of the Reefs. 327

"Death the palace chief has smitten,
Old Tanoa, weak and weary,
Sleeps, and now awaits his widows."

In the palace where the monarch
Lay in state, his chosen widows,
One by one, in gay adornments,
Gave themselves to death, their chieftain
Soon to join, for good or evil,
Follow through the land of spirits.
Two had gone, the willing victims
Of the nation's strangling customs,
When, in almost wild amazement,
Seru saw the Earnest Pleader
All the awful scene beholding.
He was youthful, tall, and manly,
And his face was full of pity,
While his eyes with tears were streaming

Seru knew him well, for often,
With the Son of Mercy coming.
He had pleaded, wept, entreated,
For the Vunivalu's widows.
But the day before, from Viwa,
Came he to the royal palace,
Found the lady Samanunu,

■^28 The Kiui^s of the Reefs.

W'itli luT women, dressers making
I'or till' (li)omtHl nul wretched victims.
In luT lieart llie act condemnin,<;,
Samanunu \et was helpless ;
'Twas the law, the nation's custom,
'Twas the will of awful Seru ;
Men and spirits all approved it,
Who was woman to oppose it ?
Hence the Pleader w^ell concluded
None could save but dreadful Seru.
So he sought him, pleaded with him,
While his father lay a-dying ;
Promised all he had to give him,
If he would but spare the women.
Seru only laughed, and answered,
" Spare them ! not for any presents,
Not for all your boats and vessels.
Ask the women what their wishes ;
If they 'Pity!' say, and 'Spare us!'
1 will do it, I will spare them."
But he knew they durst not ask it.

Now again, the Pleader, seeing,
While the work of death proceeded,
Seru, strangling rope uplifting,
Glared with fiery eyes upon him.

The Kings of the Reefs. 329

Saying, as in air he swung it,

*' See, we're doing what I told you."

" Mercy !" cried the Earnest Pleader,

" Stay your work and spare the women ;

Save them, save the few remaining."

Seru answered to his pleading,

" Five are all to death appointed,

But for you, the certain number

Had been five-and-twenty widows."

" Save the living now, I pray you,

Stay your hand, and stop the murder,"

Said the Pleader, pleading boldly.

Angry, Seru quick retorted,

"Fear you not to thus disturb us?"

''Hold, sir; hold;" the Pleader pleaded;

" Do refrain and spare the living,

Love for those who suffer moves me."

Seru, mocking, answered sternly,

" 'Tis in love we sacrifice them."

So the women all were strangled.

Then the Earnest Pleader, speaking
Words of wondrous might, protested
'Gainst the wicked deeds of Mbauland.
Seru ne'er forgot his manner.
Ne'er forgot his face of pity

330

The Kings of the Reefs.

Changed lo righteous indignation ;
Ne'er forgot his eye so wrathful,
Fhishing truth into the conscience ;
Xor his voice so awe-inspiring,
All the law of Sinai speaking.

Days went b}-, and still the chieftain
Oft was heard in conversation,

" IN THE PALACE WHERE THE MONABCH
LAV IN STATE."

Talking of the Earnest Pleader,
'J alking of the strangled women ;
Talking of departed spirits,
Asking if they knew each other.
Something in him would disturb him,
Would before him keep the vision
Of the self-forgetting Pleader,
Pleading all alone and bravely

The Kings of the Reefs.

331

For the cause of injured woman,
For her rights and for her freedom.
Aye would come the sight so ghastly
Of his first and sinful doings,
When he rose to rule his people.
Take the helm and guide the nation.

.««. i>Aii ^S' P'.*^'' 1 Sa^ti '^^ tiBfl

i^i^ iH iMi t^" k^J [^ t^ t^ ..(^j::

XA-'.-t,.-*..

•i^

^OOD

poij<[T;

-K'J^

SUNERAL rites and mournful duties
<ei.iiii All observed and duly ended,
^^^ Seru then his rulin<^ started

In the chiefly island cit3^
■r^;>^ But his formal introduction

'- pi

To his father's kingly office

Was not yet for moons to follow.

Ere the day of installation,
^ Angry storm clouds gathered o'er him.

Hasty men of arms and daring.
From the friendly Rewa country,
Fell upon a Mbauan village,
Smote its unoffending people.
So the peace was foully broken
'Twixt the jealous rival kingdoms.
Lordly Nggara, chief of Rewa,
Also had offended Seru,
Who was quick to make reprisals.

The Kings of the Reefs. 333

Thus the breach was made in friendship
Which began in early boyhood
On the banks of Rewa's river,
Where the princes played together,
Vowing that when men, with armies,
They would meet in deadly conflict.
They would burn each other's cities.

When around the tribes were warring.
Making many complications,
Seru's courage never failed him.
Once, when he would learn the movements
Of a foe, whose town his army
Had surrounded, forth he travelled,
Went at night and climbed the war fence.
Watchmen seeing, roused their comrades.
But the wary chief, retiring.
Safely reached his camp, the wiser
For his secret reconnoitring.
In the morning, when a sortie
Issued forth to seek besiegers,
Chase, and give them instant battle,
None were found, but only footprints.
Which were known as princely Seru's.
This alarmed them, shook their courage.
Talking of his bold adventure,

The Kiiii^s of the Reefs.

Scru's men would often say it :
'• W'lio would fear wlicn such a chieftain
Takes the liold as sjin- and leader,
I'^earing neither men nor spirits ?
I'^oes nia\ raise their walls to heaven,
He will t(^p them, look within them,
Smite the guards and army sleeping.
If he only were a Christian
Xonc could be a better master."

Elders have not yet forgotten
When in war, his men retreating,
He was separated from them.
This a stalwart soldier, seeing,
Swiftly ran, his club uplifting,
Down to smite the lonely chieftain.
Slay him there and win the battle.
But the warrior chief, with swiftness
Poised his spear, and drove it through him.
Dropping on the ground in weakness.
Groaned the slave and begged for quarter.
Seru gave it, spared his foeman.
And the nation filled with wonder.

,S^55*^d

JISISISISISISLSIH

^clC2^Js,2$b>

^I^HILE he pondered well his duty,
^ij Thinking out his plans for action,

How to meet the storms arising,
cS^ Lo, one day, there came to see him

^^$W^?^MM White men three, the Christian Brothers.

"They were come," they said, "to tell him.
If but once a Christian teacher
Were allowed to stay in Mbauland,
Foes might judge his rule was peaceful.
Show their mind for law and order,

Turn, and aid him in his ruling,

Help him all the land to settle."

Seru only answered ftrmly,

" None of Christian faith shall do it.

None shall change the old religion.

No ! Although he should be willing

Here, an empty cask to live in.

Ground enough whereon to stand it

;^() The Knii^s of the Reefs.

NriT 1>\ Mh.iuaiis sliall ho i^rantcd."
Stem as was his hiw and luhnj^
^*ot he chd not stop the Brothers
III their oft-repeated visits ;
Neither (h'd lie now forhid them
In tlieir work o( love and nierew

Scru, in a maze of duties,
Xcedini; pleasant rehixation,
Turned to teaehers who would tell him
0( the olden times and battles ;
This might braec his mind and cheer him.
Once when turmoil sternl}- threatened,
By command he roused the Talker
h'rom his sleepy mood and silence,
To amuse himself and chieftains
With the tales composed by poets ;
As he said, in words sarcastic,
" Long before the wealthy white man
Came with all his guns and po\vder ;
With his drink of fire and madness,
With his book of love and gladness."

Then the Talker, honoured, waking
To his high and pleasant calling,
Brought from out his mental storehouse

The Kings of the Reefs. 337

Stories old, to please his master.

Said he, while the chieftains listened :

" Ono's rulers once were might}-.

But among them rose Tanovo,

Able for the times he lived in,

Able for his fiercest rivals.

Knowing how to beat and rule them ;

Knowing how to bind together

All the islands, big and little ;

Pity 'tis his like is missing.

Were but great Tanovo with us,

Viti would be now united,

Not a broken pitcher useless,

Lying on the ground in pieces.

Once Tautaumolau against him

Rose in force and sorely pressed him.

' Charge his troops,' the hero ordered ;

Then they charged, and fell upon them,

Turned them back, and sent them fieein<

Till they reached a bay where travel

Round the shore was long and toilsome ;

So they plunged beneath its waters.

Tried their best escape to hasten

From pursuers swift and might)-.

Down below the bay they journeyed.

Made their way with fear and trembling.

The Kiiii:^s of the Reefs.

Then Tanovo, coniini; forward
To ilu- margin of tlio water,
Saw at once tlic true position ;
Drew upon his vast resources,
Said to men, liis order waiting,
' I am hot and very thirsty,
Let me drink the bay before me.'
So he stooped and drank the water,
Drained from shore to shore the inlet ;
When, behold, appeared the foemen,
Marching smartly on the bottom
Of the drained and empty harbour.
Great Tanovo and his giants
Followed, slaying men and princes,
'Till the remnant sought for mercy,
Promised to obey his ruling.

" Yet again," the Talker added,
" Marched the Ono hero forward
'Gainst a strong and boasting army,
Till a headland, long and massive.
Rising sheer from land and water,
Cut him off, with all his forces,
From the country he would conquer.
Then appeared his god within him.
Bade him raise his spear and use it,

The Kings of the Reefs. 339

Strike the headland that opposed him.
Up he poised his spear in triumph,
Shook it with a mighty shaking, .
Forward threw his hand and backward,
Then, retreating and advancing.
Drove the weapon through the mountain,
Made a road for all his people.
There to-day, as plain as ever,
We may see it, .walk it safely,
With the vaulted mountain o'er us.
With its rocky floor beneath us ;
With the ocean's angry billows
Dashing high, the way invading.
There the seers, warning, tell us
Spirits walk their beat, and guard it.
Through the highway passed the victor.
Made the nether nations subject.
Thus may Mbauan chiefs and nobles
March to conquer all the kingdoms.
' Forward ! ' be our leader's motto ;
Whether sea or land oppose him.
Each alike shall be his servant,
Help in one to bind the islands."
Great applause the chieftains gave him,
Seru only said, "Vinaka!"
"Good!" and with an inspiration

340

The y\/;/^'s 0/ the Reefs.

Ill him, .uot from ancient tcachin,i,^
III- al once a,L;ain dcUnniincd
Nothing shiHiUl in-cvciU his progress,
lie would laugh at every barrier;
Bend his mind to steer the vessel,
Steer the ship of state in safety,
Clear of dreadful rocks and dangers
Lying everywhere around him ;
Anchor \'iti 'neath one standard.

DiiDiiD'iDiiDiiD iDnDiiD iDiiDiiD .QiDiiQ 0010 laioiin'iniiDi'a nnnDranoaaoNDiDnD'

iiDuaiiniiDaiiDjniiDiiDiiDiiDio aNni'CiiDiiDiCiia!iDiiniiDiiai:niiDiiaiiDiiDiiaiOPDnDito,

OMMHJ<IDER-IJ^-^S'>ilEF.

HEN arose the day appointed
For the king's inauguration,
Lo, the chiefly little island,
With the sea on which it floated
As in green and golden splendour.
Was astir with life and pleasure.
Every Mbauan knew the reason,
Knew that Seru, who had ruled them
Long, without the name of ruler,

T t
Now, by formal proclamation,

Should at last receive the title

Somosomo's hero chieftain,
'M\ing of Reefs"* his designation,
And the lords of Thakaundrove
. Were assembled in the city.

* This was the rRf,'al title ot tlie Somosomo or Tliakaundiuve kiuga, but they were no more tlie
kings of the reefs than otlier great chieftains.

The Kin^s of the Reefs.

They had come congratuhitions

W'.iiin to otTer kingly Seru,

On his loft}- elevation

Ti) the thri>ne of western kingdoms.

Man\- were the j^-ineely presents,

Great the weight of wealth they brought him.

Mbauan etiquette demanded

He the honour of his nation

Should uphold, and give the eastern

Heroes and their king a welcome,

Which the people, ne'er forgetting,

Should in loudest praises talk of.

So were brought, by kingly orders,

Many human sacrifices,

For a great and princely banquet.

Ere to gods a formal offering

These were made, a white man landed

On the island, seeking Seru.

He was one of Britain's children.

Let his name be Son of Mercy,

Weeping many tears and bitter

O'er the people's sins and sorrows.

Greeting Seru in his palace,

There, with all his soul he pleaded

For the lives of any living.

For his suffering fellow-creatures.

The Kings of the Reefs. 343

For, he said, they were his fellows,
Though of quite another colour.
Of one flesh and blood the Father
Made the tribes of every kingdom.
But the monarch only answered,
"Such a thing cannot be granted;
'Twill the banquet spoil, and umbrage
Give our guests, and lose their friendship."

Then the Son of Mercy, anxious
Sought the King of Reefs, and greeting,
Asked him, "Would he and his nobles
Eat of such a sinful banquet?"
" 'Tis by no means what we would do,
Only should our host politely
Spread the old-time banquet for us,
None among us dare refuse it."

Ere the Son of Mercy, grieving,
Left the crowded festal city.
Which in solemn silence sitting.
Waited calm, till all was ready
For the swearing-in of Seru,
There arose a shout, proclaiming
lie had drunk the king's yanggona.
And was now the Vunivalu,

The Kilties of the Reefs.

Chief Commander o( the nation,
Of its i;allant tUu-ts and ft>rccs.

In the liarl)our lay a vessel,
Owned by honest 1 British merchant ;
He it was who brought the chieftain,
Brouirht the KinLf of Reefs to Mbauland,
With his retinue of nobles.
And had promised back to take them.
Hearing how the Son of Mercy,
Failed to stay the hand of Seru,
Keep him back from sacrificing
Men, to whom he should be father,
All to feast his guests and please them,
Straight he found the eastern ruler,
Told him he would never take him
To his home on Taviuni,
To his native place and kingdom,
If he tasted of the banquet.
Then the king of Somosomo,
Troubled much and sorely puzzled
How to shape his course in safety.
How to clear the reefs around him,
Took at last a gift to Seru,
With it begged and got exemption.
So the guest of Mbau the banquet

Tlw Kings of the Reefs.

345

Tasted not, nor did his nobles ;
For the sacrifices, asked for.
By the waiting British merchant,
Waiting for them, quite determined
Word of his should ne'er be broken

\.'y.p.t

.--vm^i'Yr,, >rf ii!

'^^^x^^r-f^lV \

A FIJIAN DAKCE.

If the message brought refusal.
All were shortly granted to him, .
Then conveyed to peaceful Viwa,
And with great respect were buried
In the graves prepared by Christians.

346 The Kings of the Reefs.

Britain i^ladly ever glories
In her sons wlio march to battle,
Fighting tyrants, who the people
Ever cruelly disregarding,
Soon would turn to beasts of burden.
May she never be without them,
They are bulwarks of her freedom.
Will she glory less in others.
Like the gallant British merchant,
Standing all alone, defenceless,
'Mid a demon crowd, protesting
'Gainst their deeds ; and, by his firmness,
Balks them in their ways inhuman ?
Never ! Evermore she'll glor}',
Wish her sons the bright example
Well and truly a3^e to follow.

%:f^

S®5|I

^i^ERU, 'mid a sea of troubles,
! #)$ Took the helm to steer the nation.
i <M^ Rewa's bold and mighty chieftain,
i?illfB®mlliiil|| Nggara, with his men of valour,

Oft in battle met and checked him ;
Swore by all the gods in Viti,
He would never wash the war paint
From his face till, fair in fighting.
He the King of Mbau had humbled.

X'-i;'

Then a fire destroyed the city,
Burnt up all her princely buildings.
All her temples laid in ashes.
Foes rejoiced, and friends, beholding.
Saw, with sinking hearts, the ruin.

Kamba,* now in bold rebellion.

* Kamba, a pleasant point of laiul a few miles to the eastward of Mbau. It Jielpg, with adjacent
reefs, to protect the Mbauan waters from ocean storms.

The Kings of the Reefs.

Stroiiijj was raising its defences,

' Twas the place of Scru's servants.

There were sent for careful keeping,

War canoes and ammunition,

Vor his new and wondrous gun-boat,

Brought him from the white man's country.

Seru thought the tribe was faithful,

But the beat of drums awoke him,

Filled himself and all the city

With th& most profound amazement.

Ovalau the rebels joining,
Got its hilly tribes to murder
Scru's best and truest servant.
Brave Verani, bold and noble.
Sent on peaceful mission to them. .
'Twas a blow that sorely grieved him.
Added to his other troubles,
For 'twas he who sent him thither,
Hoping back to win the people.

Now the Son of Mercy calling,
Once again the chief petitioned.
For the people's sake, wdio wished it,
That in Mbau a Christian pastor
Might among them live and labour.

The Kings of the Reefs. 349

Seru coldly gave permission.

So the British Christian pastor

Came in pity to the city.

There he lived, a hut his dwelling,

All alone, yet not deserted,

For the Lord he served was with him,

As with every faithful worker

Who the works of love and mercy

Does, in self-forgetful service.

Then the few that oft had heard, them

Heard the Prophet, first of teachers.

Heard the loving friend of Seru,

Heard their earnest faithful brothers.

Gathered round the teaching pastor.

Came, their sons and daughters bringing ;

Daily sought his wise instruction.

Worshipped with him on the Sabbath.

Simple were his words, and suited

To their every age and station ;

Very soon they learned to love him.

Seru still his heart did harden.
Cared not for the white man's presence.
Things were working dead against him.
Now his bold and active brother,
Mara, named by all The Second,

^3o The Kin^s of the Reefs,

111 liis lioi ami liigh ambition,
Made alliance with the rebels,
Joined the Kambans, and was chosen
Hero leader, bold and daring.
When attacked by Seru's forces,
Kamba held its own, and drove them
Panic stricken to their vessels.
Shaming priests and gods deceitful,
Who had promised easy conquest.

Not alone disasters happen ;
Soon as one arrives, another
Comes in sight to vex and check us,
As at sea come sudden tempests,
Never rest the seamen giving.
Thus it was with troubled Seru ;
Sickness, never dreamt of, smote him,
Laid him low, and broke his spirit.

^^T

^^^

^fJ^j:^^f^M^i^fJMl^l^^

k
f

'<:SjS>

'•■ii'Oiiii—

N his darkest days, when troubles,
Sore defeats, the loss of friendships.
Guile of gods and priests, deceiving ;
Conflagrations in the city,
Sickness, foreign complications;
Every wind that blew the ocean
Lashing into sterner billows.
Made his steering hard and harder,
Lo, one day, from battle coming.

Sorely grieving at repulses

Which his arms had lately met with,

When a rebel fort attacking.

In his palace lay a letter.

Written by the king of red men.

From the islands named the Friendly

By a hero navigator.

'Twas a rift the light revealing

In the darkness, thick above him.

The K'nii^s of tlic Jucfs.

Tims TuboLi, ihc friendly moniirch,
\\"ioto, his inind U> Scru tcllini; ;
" 'Tis to tell ni\- lo\e I write you,
Love for you aiul all \our people,
Who arc loyal to your rulin<4'.
When the plantini;' work is finished,
I will sail on friendly visit,
Sail to feteh the Ka Marama,
Oucen of all your Viti vessels.
Which you gave me on my passage
To the white man's wondrous country.
In the meantime I will say it.
Say it all in greatest kindness,
Do not let the nation's ancients
Kee]) you in the old religion ;
Be not guided by their thinking.
Men, to be successful rulers.
In these days of swift advancement,
Must both wisely think and govern.
It is good your mind be humble ;
Pride of conquest leads to ruin.
In my heart I wish a Christian,
True, and good, and wise, and faithful,
You would now become in earnest.
'Twould for ever be a blessing

TJie Kings of the Reefs. 353

To yourself and all your people.
When I come we'll talk about it."

Samanunu heard the letter,
Heard with beating heart its wisdom,
Then to Seru said, with brightness
Beaming in her eyes, their beauty
Speaking more than all her language,
" 'Tis the day of your salvation ;
Do the thing Tubou advises,
'Twill the nation save, and bring us
Peace that never comes of fighting."

■'%#^'

Bet>iij<iks ^im,

ERU pondered mueh the letter,

O'er and o'er he turned its contents ;
Weisfhed the words of Samanunu.

•'\

Then in earnest he bethou.i^ht him,
Saying to himself, reflecting,
" Strange the things that set me thinldng,
]\Iuch I try to thrust them from me ;
Strong and high I build my fences,
That my soul they may not capture,
But they seek me still and chase me ;

O'er my highest walls they clamber.

Will not let me rest from thinking.

Strange that those who differ widely

In so many ways and subjects

Yet agree in one, and ask me

On that common ground to join them.

Prophet, whom I coldly treated ;

Man of kindness, bold and loving.

The Kings of the Reefs. 355

With a love unknown in Viti
Ere he came, by deeds to teach us,
Of our word for love the meaning ;
British Sisters, kind and gentle,
Landing here with hearts of trembling,
Moved by strange, unearthly daring,
From the jaws of death to rescue
Helpless women, whom my butchers
Stealing, had in hand to murder ;
British nobles in their war ships.
On the seas protecting commerce,
Often calhng in to see me ;
Mighty ocean-going heroes,
Flag of stars and stripes outflying
On their ships of fire and thunder ;
Earnest Pleader, racked with pity,
Pleading for my father's widows,
Sternly doomed by me to perish
In accordance with our customs ;
Brothers three, a deputation
Strong, in terms respectful, asking
That in Mbau might dwell a teacher,
Setting forth the ways of wisdom ;
Son of Mercy, often with me.
Pointing out the path of duty;
British merchant, lone but fearless,

356 The Knifes of the Reefs.

Kij^lit before my i^ucsts, my ruling;

I>\- his lirmncss boldly chcrkii^L; ;

Kindly Pastor, calm and thouj^htful,

In tlu' liousc the liill top crowning-,

Through the Oucen's persistent wishes,

Making how to save the sinning

In the city all his business;

Great Tubou, the king of red men,

Writing to me, like a neighbour.

Who a friend would be, and helper ;

Samanunu, youthful, lovely,

Still the queen of wives, and faithful —

All declare me proud and wicked ;

All assure me change is needed

In my life and in my ruling;

All advise me Christian teaching

Would me better make and wiser,

Abler far to guide my people.

Shall I turn, and be a Christian?

Then the gods and priests, in hatred,

With their plots will persecute me ;

'Twill the priestly craft abolish,

Make the temple-men my foemen.

Gods and priests, indeed ! And wherefore

Care for them, or dread their curses ?

What of late, in all my troubles,

The Kings of the Reefs. 357

Have they done to my advantage ?
Nothing ; only fawned and flattered,
Promised often great successes,
Just as often disappointed ;
Tantahsed, and led me onward,
Raising high my expectations
Of some coming good they promised,
Knowing they would, like a pitcher,
Fall and break in many pieces.
In my soul I think a Christian
Now I'll be, and end the conflict.
Nay, but let me first the Pastor
~Hear, and know his mind about it."

;^R.KJ<IESS TO ^leWT.

"•■H^i"'""—

HEN the pastor came to Seru

Then he brought before him pictures
Showing what his Hfe and conduct ;
Told him change, the first and greatest,
Now within himself was needed.
If the inner man were altered.
Then the outer man in all things
Would in clearness answer to it.
Seru listened, wept, and answered,
"Will not God at once reject me,

1 urn for ever angry from me.

If I name His name in pra3^er,

Ask in mercy for His pardon ?"

Said the Pastor, "Only try it,

'Tis not like Him. He forgives us,

And, unlike Ndengei the ancient.

Who his sons would never pardon,

He devised the means in pity.

The Kings of the Reefs. 359

Back to bring His banished children,
That they might not e'er be outcasts,
All His grace and mercy seeking."
Seru's giant breast was heaving
With a new excitement in him ;
Then he spoke in words befitting,
Words of most unwonted meekness :
" Whether good or ill it bring me,
'Twill the people bless and save them,
Save the nation from destruction,
Therefore, now, the thing is settled.
Tribal chiefs and city nobles
Soon shall meet in consultation.
If we reach a clear agreement,
All our priests may close their temples."

On the morrow Seru met them,
Met the Mainland chieftains early,
Told them like a thorough statesman,
Countries, nations were advancing;
Viti was behind and losing;
She should follow better leading;
Asked them news to hear and ponder;
Had the letter laid before them.
Had it read and well considered.
Then he asked them what their minds were.

^6o The Knifes of the Reefs.

Told thcni all their thoughts to tell him,
Sonic advised dela\-, and others
With himself, were firm, the proverb
Ouoting, "Waiting brings disaster."

Then he called another meeting ;
Summoned all his noble kinsmen,
Nobles, lords within the city.
Long they talked about the changes.
Which were clearly put before them.
When debate had reached a crisis.
Just a word the question settled.
Straightway led to swift agreement.
Lo, a lord with manly boldness
Said, his meaning none mistaking,
" He who asks our minds to tell him
Better knows than we the matter.
Only one in all the islands
Is the trouble ; who but Seru
Hinders progress? He should lead us.
Let him only go before us,
All the land will gladly follow."
Seru, greatly moved in spirit,
By the word so boldly spoken,
Said at once in speech becoming,
" Seeing this is now 3 our thinking,

The Kings of the Reefs. 361

I will turn and be a Christian ;
'Tis the time to show your ruling ;
What then say you, all and every?"
Most in joyous speeches answered,
" Let us with our chief be Christians."
"Go, then," said the altered monarch,
"Tell your people all about it;
Get you ready for the morrow ;
'Tis the day of rest with Christians.
When the sound of drum shall call us,
We will meet, a great assembly ;
Bow before the God in Heaven."

On the morrow, up ascending,
Came the sun in peerless splendour ;
Not a cloud the light beshadowed ;
Men and women revelled in it.
Laughed and chatted in its brightness.
Of the new and welcome pleasures
Which the happy day would bring them.

Ere the sun had high arisen,
Out the drum, the "War Prociaimer" —
Name the Mbauans long had called it —
Sounded o'er the land and water,
Stirred the tribe with joyful tidings.

362 The Kings of the Reefs.

Oft before it rolled its thunder
Forth, to tell o( war and bloodshed;
Tell of deeds that shamed the daylight,
Made the time of darkness hideous.
Then, it thrilled the land with horror ;
Now, it thrilled with glad emotion.
Numbers in the Stranger's Mbure
Gathered, God to humbly worship ;
Every chiefly head unturbaned.
There, the foremost, was the monarch,
Then were priests, his sons the princes,
Thoughtful statesmen, hero warriors,
Different ranks of useful w^orkmen ;
Then the nation's hope, the youthful.
Full of promise for the future.
O'er against them, Samanunu,
Sitting head of courtly ladies ;
Then in rows, arranged behind her,
Clean, and dressed in tapa dresses,
Women, maidens, quiet, modest.
Ne'er before had Viti women
Entered temple door to worship.
Heathen rites and priests forbade them.

Then the Son of Mercy rising
Spoke the words of life with power,

The Kings of the Reefs. 363

And the faithful Pastor following,
Told them of the man Redeemer,
Christ, who came the world to rescue.
Break our bonds and give us freedom.
Having heard the joyful tidings.
Prostrate fell the people, praying,
Whilst the Pastor, God addressing.
Prayed Him evermore to bless them ;
Lead them in His peace and gladness,
Every evil way forsaking.

^WE I^ED fI?EJ<I.

• — "^m ■

^ ANY moons appeared and vanished f,
Troubles new, and persecutions
Came, and early vanished with them.
Seru met his greater trials,
Sometimes hoping, sometimes doubting.
Soon he set his heart on making
Peace with Rewa's mighty ruler,
Who his offers all rejected.

Then the tide began its rising ;
With it rose his drooping spirits.
Many crooked paths were straightened ;
Roughest places smoothed and levelled ;
Gates of brass and bars of iron
Beaten down, and burst in sunder.

Nggara, King of Rewa, sickened.

The Kings of the Reefs. 365

Died unconscious, no instruction
Leaving how to fight his foeman.
Thus, when all his plans were ready
Mbau to take, and crush its ruler.
Death appeared, and boldly smiting,
Struck his hand away, the moment
It would grasp ambition's object.

Seru then his peaceful message
Once again repeated, judging
Circumstance and season fitting.
Rewa chieftains, tired of quarrels,
Answered in a friendly spirit ;
So the war between them ended ;
Peace was made amid rejoicings.

Kamba stood aloof, in sternness
Held by Mara, peace condemning ;
Never dreaming, while it threatened.
That its days were surely numbered.
While the rebels still were boasting,
In the strength of men and fences,
Lo, the watchmen looking seaward
Saw, one day, a fleet of vessels,
Great canoes, with pennants flying,
Making course for Scru's island.

^66 Tlie Kinf^s of tJw Reefs.

Forty, counliiit; all, they numbered.
'Twas the t^randcst sight that Viti
IC'er had seen upon the oeean,
All the shij-ts so line and massive,
All so well and deftly handled.
Ncaring Mbau, but distance keeping,
Quite respectful, sails were lowered,
Seru and his chiefly city.
Everywhere renowned, saluting.
Mara this observed, remarking,
*' Red men, friends of Seru, are thc}^.
Come to join his troops against us.
Let us one and all to duty.
Some to watching, some to storing,
Some to make the fences stronger."

While the men like slaves were working,
Up in haste there came a chieftain.
Bringing word from Tonga's ruler,
Great Tubou, to Mara, greeting.
"Mara," said the king, "a promise,
]Made by me to kingly Seru,
Now has brought me to your countr}'.
Sorrow fills my heart on finding
Civil war and foul rebellion
Rampant everywhere among you ;

Tlie Kings of the Reefs. 367

More, for though in friendship coming,
Yet your warriors at Levuka,
Every word of yours obeying,
Robbed me of a chiefly subject,
Great Tawaki, true and noble,
Whom they shot when landing letters
From the French who dwell in Tonga
To their brethren on the island.
Still, if peace be now your object.
Send us word, and come and see us,
Nothing fearing. Stay refusing,
Then my host shall join with Seru's."

Mara answered, ''Take my message;
Tell the king I cannot meet him ;
Tell him not with us to meddle ;
We our own affairs can settle."

Then a Mbauan chief arriving.
Peaceful message brought to Mara,
Who the offer spurned, deriding
All the forces now against him.
"Who," said he, "are boastful red men?
Let them try to land on Kamba ;
Ne'er a spot they'll find to stand on.
Yon adjacent empty island
They may take, but Kamba never!"

^(kS

The K'uv^s of the Reefs.

Tlicii to tribes his cause befriending,
Mam sent, comniandinj:!; heroes
Arms to take and fight the red men.
Who, if not opposed and beaten,
Would the whole of Viti capture.
Words Hkc tlicse the foes of Seru
BrouglU in wrathful haste to Kamba,
Swearing there to die in fighting,
Die, or Mbau and all its armies
\\'ith its red allies to conquer.

^<^xv.^-^^^^-^^^^^

A CUIEF S GRAVE.

!^*il WM W& 5^<

If If if ffft^ffff if '

/I ^RERT Victory,

^:f

^AMBA, tongue-like, northward stretching,
Is a pleasant land and fruitful ;
Quite within a league of Mbauland,
On its peaceful bay to eastward.
There it lies, with reefs engirdled.

On the north the Kamba city
Stood, within its walls defiant.
On the south, adjacent to it,
Was a village, brave though little.
Further southward, long defences
Reached across from bay to ocean,
Stood to meet attack from landward.
Thus protected, Mara, waiting.
Watched with all his rebel army ;
Brought his offerings to the temple ;
Bef^f^ed the gods of war to favour.
Then the priest addressed the spuits :

^7o The Kings of the Reefs.

'* O vo i;o(ls, whom we would honour,
Let vour niiiuls hv uiuhxiilctl ;
(live us treasure, hTe, and pleasure;
Let the women and the ehildren
In our houses live and prosper;
Sweep diseases from aniong us ;
In the raee witli every evil,
Make the distance far between us ;
Spare the hands that brew the kava;*
Spare the feet that carry w^ater;t
Lead our foes astray in fi<:^hting ;
Break the teeth of evil speakers ;
Headlong cast them into ditches ;
Smite the redmen, spare your servants."

When the day uprose for action,
Mbau awoke to scenes her children
Ne'er in days before had witnessed.
Stahvart men of w^ar in hundreds
Came around their king, who led them,
While they lowly bowed, in prayer.
Thus Tubou, the red men's ruler.
Spoke, the King of kings addressing:
''Thou, who art our King and Father,

• A figurative expression for the young men whose duty it was to chew and press the kava root
lor making the nalion's drink.

t The water carriers, meaning the women and girls.

-"<>--

Make us thankful for Thy goodness ;
Pardon all our sad offences ;
Help us in the time of trouble ;
Guide us in the path of duty.
In the midst of great excitements,
Hold us back from deeds of vengeance ;
Aid us in the fight for quiet,

aV'W

372 The Kings of the Reefs.

Whicli llic hiiul is sorely nccdin.t;-,
LitV io save, o{ friend and focmcn.
Prosper \'iti, prosper Tonga.
Let the nations ever praise Thee."
*' Be it so," a thousand voiees
Answered to the king's petition.
Then they rose to do their duty.

Soon the fleets, united, covered
All the bay from Mbau to Kamba,
With the 'great canoes and little,
Filled with fighting men and servants ;
Bearing noble Tonga women,
Who to care for dead and wounded,
Went the work of love pursuing.
Soon the rebel point they rounded.
Passed the southern fence, and anchored
Off the friendly town of Kiuva,
Where they met the friendly warriors.
Sent by faithful tribes to help them.
Then they got their marching orders.

Viti's army inland marching.
Went to break the long defences,
Early drive the foe to shelter,
Where his priests, in pagan temples,
Sat predicting speedy conquest.

The Kings of the Reefs. 373

King Tubou and all his red men,
Seru with them, in their vessels
Sailed for Kamba, landed boldly,
Near the little hero-village,
'Mid a storm of whizzing bullets.
Then the red commander ordered
Dashing troops in front to drive them,
Drive from out the wood before them
Every bold and fighting foeman ;
Then to cover well their comrades
Felling trees for strong intrenchments ;
For his plan was, life preserving.
To invest the rebel city,
Starve the place to quick surrender.
Straight the men, his words obeying,
Not a single moment losing,
Drove from out the wood the rebels.
Who retreated, wonder smitten
By the rush that fell against them,
Like the seas the reefs attacking.
None remained to help the fallen.
Bear on board the ships the wounded,
For they knew that close behind them
Tongan women cjuick were coming,
All their aid to give and comfort.

374 ^^'^ Kings of the Reefs.

Whilst Tuhou and hiMwnv \vo(.)dnK'n,
W'ieldinj; axos, trees were felling,
Ko, the smoke arose from Thumu ;
Toiii^ans had the village, storming,
r^irod, and, l)ravely entering, taken.
All its men in panic tieeing.
Then the rebel line, defending
All the fence from sea to ocean.
Knowing, by the smoke ascending.
Red men had the village captured,
Broke, and tied in haste to Kamba,
Lest, if caught between the armies
Marching southward, marching northward.
Not a man should reach the city.
Now the Viti forces, scorning
Stakes and ditches, loud the war cry
Shouting, climbed and crashed in fury
Onward, Heeing foe pursuing.
Soon, with red allies uniting.
There they stood, a living war-fence,
Round the fort whose rebel muskets
Flashed, and poured their deadly missiles.
Then the red men dashed all heedless.
Inner fence for outworks takincr •
Till, when right within the city,
Ere they knew it, raged the^conllict.

The Kings of the Reefs. 375

Through the breaches trooped in hundreds,
Warriors red and black, the struggle
Fiercely waging round the temple.
There the death-drum beat in triumph
O'er the Tongans slain in battle,
Offered by the priests to war gods.
Mara, ere the place was entered.
Did his best his men to rally ;
Tried by volley after volley
Back to turn the tide against him,
Roll its mighty torrent from him ;
But his efforts proving useless,
As his gaping fences showed him,
Gaping in a score of places.
With his braves he lied, escaping
Where the foe no guards had planted.
On they rushed in wild confusion
O'er the beach so rough and shelly,
O'er the reef in madness plunging.
Just as if ten thousand red men
Chased them from the held of battle.
Then they swam the frith in wildness,
Swam to friendly tribes who joined them
In the flight, and quickly vanished ;
Mara saying, as he hastened,
Making his escape with swiftness.

;"'6 The Kijii^s of the Reefs.

Knowinj^' iKilhcr lu)\v nor wliitlicr,

" Mi-n wlu) never yet have seen them

May be brave as giant heroes,

Bold as fabled god of Ono ;

All, however, who have met them

Only once in war time, never!

He that fights with stalwart red men

Ne'er before was e'er so foolish.

Red men never run for bullets.

Though in human form appearing,

Hero gods they are in battle."

King Tubou, the captured city
Reaching, stayed at once the carnage ;
Handed prisoners o'er to Seru,
Asking for them all a pardon.
Save to Mara, this he granted.
Not without a mighty struggle
In himself with passions, threatening
Still from .good to turn his spirit.
Thoughts about his kingly brother.
Strong of will and moral purpose,
Nerved his soul for righteous doing.

So it ever is, and will be ;
Men, whose nature God has altered.

The Kings of the Reefs. 377

Made them noble, kind and mighty,
Will their strength impart to others,
In the time of sore temptation.
Seru, helped by wise example,
Won a victory o'er his passions,
Which eclipsed his Kamba conquest,
Left him stronger far and better
Than the man who takes a city.

pijasasHSHsasi^HSHsasasisaB

. ^^SSSSasBS Es

ltiJ.E]l2!il5Jiai!Sl

i gsasasasasss asBS ESgs l

tii'm Kj^D

FE,

•j^iJ

^ERU, back from war, the red men
t Feasted, filled their ships with presents ;
Did his very best to thank them

'-d'

For their timely aid in trouble. ^

Then Tubou, with all his warriors,
Rose and left for home and country.
Sailing in the Ra Marama,
Sailing in the queen of vessels.

Kamba captured, foul rebellion-
Sternly forced upon the people
Hy the rebel would-be rulers.
Vain, ambitious,, plotting, cruel —
Died, and tribes around, repenting,
Came to Mbau in glad submission.
Twenty thousand men and women,
Groaning long for peace and freedom,
Rose, and shut the heathen temples.

The Kings of the Reefs. 379

Then the Mbauan Christian monarch
Turned his mind the land to settle ;
Told the tribes to work in earnest,
Peaceful occupations follow ;
Gave them simple laws to guide them ;
Set them all a good example.
Building none, as yet, for worship
Had he raised upon his island,
But on Sabbath Days, rejoicing
Both to pray and get instruction.
He with hundreds of his subjects
Sat within the Stranger's Mbure.
Every day were read the Scriptures
In his home, where prayer was offered.
Daily he his heart would question,
Ask about the change within him
Which the Pastor said was needed.
Twenty moons, or more, departed,
Ere he saw the Master's meaning
Of the words to ancient chieftain,
" Born again ye must be, or ye
Cannot see the Father's kingdom."
In his light and in his darkness,
In his heart that now was childlike.
Up he raised his soul in prayer :
"God and Father, be Thou gracious;

^S{.-> The Kittys of the Reefs.

Tlirough Thy Son my soul deliver.

Let me know the inner freedom,

W'liicli to men Thou giv'st who fear Thee."

Then imother rift in eloudhmd

Let the light his soul illumine.

In his joy he told the pastor ;

Told his c]ueenly Samanunu,

Who the Joy reeiprocated ;

She had earlier come to know it.

Then he made the resolution,
All his wives but one to part with ;
Leave them free to go and marry ;
Not to destitution turn them,
But with wealth abundant send them,
Send them to their friends and country ;
Thus observing Viti custom.*

This accomplished, kingly Seru
Yet again the nation startled.
Place and day and time appointed,

• Marriage in Fiji was not regarded as it is with us. '• Putting away" a wife was not necessarily
a reproach. If it were arranged for by negotiation with her kinsfolk, and accompanied by gifts
saOJcient to amount to a " return of the dower," it was a friendly transaction perfectly agreeable to
bolb parties. It should also be noted that it had no effect upon the status of the children born of
the wife who was thus sent back in honour to her friends. Nor had it any prejudicial effect upon the
wcman herself. Ou llie tontroiy, she was held in very high respect as one who, having done her
duty well, had been honourably discharged. If she had any remains of youth about her she was sure
of getting another husband.

The Kings of the Reefs. 381

Seru and his Samanunu
Stood before the holy altar ;
Vowed, in presence of the people,
Man and wife to be together ;
Death alone their union parting.
This example moved the islands ;
Old and young in countless couples.
Glad, in Christian bonds united.

Once again before the altar
Came the King and Samanunu,
Came to ask the kindly Pastor
On them there to pour the water.
Sign of grace, from God descending.
Seru then before his subjects,
Who had suffered 'neath his ruling.
Humbly stood, his sins confessing.
Said he, tears his eyes bedimming,
"la foolish man and wicked
Long have been among my people ;
I have injured home and country.
Scourged the world and left it prostrate.
God in mercy sent His servants,
Good and true, to warn and save me ;
O'er the seas from far He sent them.
Men of different caste and calling

Tlw Kings of the Reefs.

Came, and Libourcd liard lo turn mo ;
Hut to all 1 si)i)kc in sternness ;
Spurned their teaching and entreaty,
As you know, and sent them from me ;
Then in lighting found my pleasure.
God was good, and smote me sorely.
Till my ways lie made me ponder;
Till He led me on and forward,
Where, to-day, I stand before you.
Now our God Lo serve 1 promise.
All the works of sin renouncing,
By the strength that lie shall give me."

Samanunu, also speaking,
Told her mind in modest manner.
■Then the Pastor on them water
Poured, their chosen names pronouncing.
Then the congregation rising,
Sang with thankful hearts their praises ;
Bowed, and prayed that Viti ever
Might be blessed with Christian rulers.

NCE a Christian hero, zealous,
Wrote to generous British people
Words that fired their souls with pity.
Kindled flames of zeal within them :
" Pity Viti, British people.
Oh, be pleased to pity Viti !"
'Twas an inspiration in him,
Forcing from him earnest pleadings,
For a race that, when awakened,

Soon would learn to know they needed

Pity for themselves and children,

And, the cry in earnest raising,

Look for God's abundant answer.

Now it came in wondrous fulness.

Daily scenes in neighbouring islands.
Or in mainland tribes, were witnessed,

iS4 The Kings of the Reefs.

Showing how the nation welcomed
Clirist, and worship false discarded.
During all the Reformation,
Public festal days were common,
Days of tribal joy and gladness,
Days of formal farewell partings,
When from all their gods they parted.
Then in front of thick-caved temples,
Chiefs would come, and men and women,
Youths and maids, and happy children.
Each with gay and pretty garlands.
Green and sweetly scented emblems
Of the day upon them risen.
Dressed in bright and morning freshness.
Food and fruits in rich abundance.
They would bring for gods departing ;
There on temple lawn present them.
Then a grey-head slowly rising,
Forth would come in humble manner
Where the offerings lay, and touch them.
Stooping as he did it, saying:
" Truthful is the white man's knife-blade,
In the hand of faithful planter;
Truthful is the white man's hatchet,
\n the hand of faithful woodman;
Truthful is the white man's musket.

The Kings of the Reefs. 385

In the hand of faithful soldier;
Truthful is the white man's Bible,
In the hand of faithful teacher.
As the reed-grass, cut by knife-blade.
Falls, and dries for fire to burn it ;
As the tree, by woodman's hewing,
Falls, and lies where'er it falleth ;
As the foe before the firing.
Falls upon the field of battle ;
As the sin of men repenting
F'alls before the mighty Smiter ;
So shall fall our old religion,
Smitten by the new and truthful.
Hence adieu, ye gods of darkness !
Get you gone, the day is rising.
Sit we here, but go you yonder,
Never to return and vex us;
Never more with lies deceive us,
Nor with curses fright and kill us.
Let the gifts we here present you
Cool your wrath, and part between us ;
'Tis the last we mean to give you.
Go, be gone, adieu for ever !
Gods no more ; for aye we sever.
Now may Gospel teaching, speeding,
Scatter all our night of darkness."

The Kifif^s of the Reefs,

Thus liis spcccli s.llc,l^lu ciulcd.
i lien the pco)-)lo clapped, and shouted,
•' I^et tlic new religion prosper!"
Then dividing out the offerings,
Took witli thankful hearts, and ate them;
l-\)r the ancient gods, departed,
Would not, could not, come to eat them ;
Truth had wounded, clubbed, and killed them.

Shut the temples, men arising,
iiuiit, instead, the schools and churches ;
Called for teachers, called for pastors,
One in colour and in language
With themselves, to teach and lead them.
Be their kindly under-shepherds.
When for these they asked, and waited
Oft and long, but did not get them.
None there being there to give them,
They would gather in their churches.
At the hour their neighbours gathered ;
Sit in silent artless worship ;
Then retire, their mind expressing,
As of old, the Macedonian •
Spoke to Paul by night, at Troas,
"Much we need you, come and help us!"
Soon, an army rose and helped them.

The Kings of the Reefs.

387

Gala days were those, and pleasant,
In the reign and lands of Seru,
In the other Viti kingdoms.
Tribes dismissed their gods with promptness;
Then the new religion greeted,
With the joy of chiefs and rulers;
With the joy of men and women;
With the joy of little children.

aon ooa OOD ODD DOCT □«.;: ) '^^-^^ ■'

9r\IEJ<IDS IJ<! ^EED.

cC//^l>

ERU'S life, from hence advancing
Nearly three decades, was woven
Into \'iti's changeful history.
If reform had sooner happened,
Then his own and country's fortune
Had been clearly, widely different,
But with other cares and strivings.

Not a monarch sways a sceptre
But has many trials and crosses.
Whether heathen king, or Christian.
But his troubles greatly vary ;
E'en as now they spring from darkndss
Dominating ruled and ruler,
Or, anon, from reformation.
Seru, like a favoured sailor.
Came rejoicing, colours flying,
From the former sea of troubles ;
But, as if to keep him humble.

The Kings of the Reefs. 389

Lo! another rolls before him.

He must cross it in his vessel ;

He must face its every danger;

Stand by day and night the helmsman ;

Till, as once before he said it,

When, the Koro sea behind him,

On triumphant through the passage

Bold he sailed, his sailors wondering,

Into Mbauan peaceful waters,

He may yet again repeat it:

"All our foes are left behind us,

Beaten by the art of sailing."

Grace from God and highest wisdom

He will need to do his steering,

Ere he anchors in the harbour.

Ere in peace he leaves the nation.

Kings have need of faithful helpers.
Just as much as toiling subjects.
Seru, favoured more than others,
Had 'around him wise and faithful
Friends in need, to watch and aid him.
Cheer him in his many troubles.
In his conflicts and his hardships.

Samanunu never left him ;
Never turned from what engaged him ;

The K'nii^s of the Reefs.

Was it joy, or was it sorrow,
Slic woukl kc'cji him from elation,
Slic would kccji him from despairing;.
Was it State alVairs, jierplexing,
She would use her woman's elearness,
Hrush awav the dust and eobwebs
l-'rom his mind and from the business;
Then the thin^' to do appearing;,
She to duty straight would urge him,
Hid him trust in God and do it.

Next with Samanunu, helping,
Was his true and pious chaplain,
Come in youth from Tonga country,
With a heart for \^iti mourning,
Yearning for its quick salvation.
He and Seru's Friend from Britain
Early knew and loved eacli otlicr.
lie was known in ever}' island.
As a man of noble presence ;
Unassuming simple manners ;
Useful life and purest morals ;
Friend alike of slave and chieftain ;
Loved by parents and by children ;
All at home on land or \vater ;
He a house could plan, and build it ;

The Kings of the Reefs.

391

Hew the trees, and finely shape them
Into neatly fitting sections,
Tie them into noble vessels.

iP.#.

■.»i

,. . ^

CO ^

?9- The Kin^s of the Reefs.

Gardens he could j^hmt, and inx)ducc
From them \m\v^ in rich abundance.
He could teach a school of children,
Preach, antl soothe the sick and dying.
Scru loved him, made him chaplain.
Had him early brought to Mbauland,
Where for years he lived and laboured,
Daily more beloved and loving.

Then, above the royal palace,
On the hill-top, sea o'erlooking.
Dwelt the good and kindly Elder,
Who the Pastor's work had entered.
Like his brother workers, toilinjr
In the other island kingdoms,
He prepared and taught the teachers,
Who, to tribes around appointed,
Gladly w^ent to give instruction.
Other works he did, and ably ;
Aiming men to lead from evil.
Keep them in the path of virtue ;
Lest, in time of swift temptation.
Back they went to ancient habits.

Seru knew the worth of every
Christian child, and man, and woman ;
Every useful institution.

The Kings of the Reefs. 393

Founded in his fair dominions,

Well he knew, and knowing fostered.

Looking with prophetic keenness.

He beheld of good the harvest

Which the years to come would gather.

Passing one day by the ovens,
Which, before the change came o'er him,
Oft with demon fires were heated
For the dreadful sacrifices,
He his inner vowing uttered :
" Never more shall these be opened.
Soon, and all with me will say it.
Never more shall deeds of vileness
Heard of be in all our islands.
Forces now at work will banish
h\\ our crimes and superstitions.
As from gardens weeds are banished.
By the" hand of careful planter
Plucking up the bad, and planting
Where it grew the good in season.
Then the future, coming toward us.
With its novel circumstances.
With its dangers new, and battles
Hard to meet and wage with courage,
Shall, through thoughtful preparation.
Find us not unready for it."

.>^

:2£>^

^'^^.

0\\ in touch with foreign nations,
Scru found his ruling harder.
Men from distant lands perplexed Inni ;
Tried their ends to gain unfairl}- ;
Thrust upon him crown and title,
None, presuming, claimed before him ;
Called him, vainly. King of Viti ;
Heaped upon him many burdens,
Which they knew he could not carry ;
Brought, unjustly, claims against him,

Which the noble-minded statesmen

Who ui-)on their mission sent them.

Told them in their wise instructions

Ne'er to do, or think of doing.

Ere a strict investigation,

Calm, impartial, searching, thorough,

Giving all a patient hearing;

Then, on verdict true and faithful,

Dealing even-handed justice.

The Kings of the Reefs. 395

Commerce, stirrinij; all the nations,
Touched the shores and startled Viti ;
Then demanded from her rulers
Right to trade in any island,
Right to ask and have protection,
Safe, for life, and home, and substance.

Then there came the news of conflict
In the white man's grand Republic.
Great United States, so mighty.
Flying stars and stripes above it.
Left her trades and cotton growing,
War to wage, and civil conflict.
Over millions of her bondmen.
All to free, or bind for ever.

. Fortune seekers came to Viti,
Planting cotton for the nation
Who the world supplies with clothing.
Over all the vast Paciflc
Rushed a wild and youthful monster,
Sprung from him that men were smiting
Hip and thigh with mighty armies.*
Peaceful isles were madly ravaged ;
Heedless, heartless, lustful white men,

* Whilst America was liberating her slaves, people of other nations, in their lust for gaiu, ivera
inaking slaves of the poor South Sea islanders.

y)f> The Kitii^s of the Reefs.

il.uin*; weak and helpless black men,
Stole their youngest men and women ;
Took them under false pretences ;
Bore them oil' to work in Viti,
l'\ir from all the friends that loved them.

Seru stood aghast, and trembled,
Wondering at the sin enormous.
While his people he was freeing.
White men others were enslaving.
As he pondered, sorel}' puzzled,
Lo, the British vessels coming,
Swept the seas and smote the Gorgon.
Seru wondered more, and pondered.
Then his thinking clearly uttered :
" Might is good to all who have it.
If they will but use it rightly,
Use to help the weak and friendless.
Britain's strength could firmly bind us
Into one united province ;
Make our islands free and happy.
Is she willing ? Let us ask her."
Day by day he thought about it;
Then he asked, and got refusal.

\'iti struggled on, rejoicing
In her faith, and noble mission,

The Kings of the Reefs. 397

Sending to her tribes the Gospel.
Soon her sowing was with weeping.
Inland tribes, to whom in pity
Went her sons with gladful tidings,
Slew them, all their love rejecting.
In Navosa's heathen country
Fell her Christian native martyrs,
Led by earnest, loving white man.
Who, in self-forgetful labours,
Travelled unknown paths and dangerous.
All to seek the good of others.
But their blood, for wider sowing,
Seed became, and wondrous harvest.

As the Ruler's reign proceeded.
Red men came in greater numbers ;
Came and settled in the islands.
Then, to keep them all in order,
Maafu came, the great and mighty,
Who his king and land deserted.
Left Tubou and Tonga country
To exalt himself in Viti.
Red men like to be in fashion.
Like to imitate the white man,
Just as much as other people ;
So they came demanding money,

\--

The Kiiitfs of the Reefs.

Which they s.iid was ilur fioiii Sciu,
Hcinj; claitns the\' had iL^aiiist liiiii.
lUit 'twas done to scare and frif^ht him,
Turn him from uniting Viti.
Then he rose, and looking round liini,
Shook his hmbs so strong and massive,
Turned to raise his struggHng country ;
Turned to aid the new reHgion ;
Help its training schools and college;
Learn to read his native language,
Written liy the British Christians ;
Learn to understand the Scriptures,
Sent by earnest British people.
Oft lie thought about the saying,
Whispered hy a dying chieftain
Whom he knew, his life admiring,
When in death he clasped the volume,
Just from o'er the ocean brought him :
" Lettest now, O Lord, Thy servant
(io in peace, salvation seeing."
Oft he prayed that shattered Viti
Might be saved and kept in safety,
'Neath a ruling good and mighty.

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NE day, after stormy weather,

Woeful news was brought to Seru,
News of wreck and sad disaster ;
Yet the tale had gladness in it.
Far away at sea, a vessel.
Flying British flag, had foundered.
On the raft her crew and master.
Parched and black with thirst and hunger.
Drifted on, to death or madness ;

Only few, alive, were conscious,

When before them rose a mountain,

Rose a high majestic island.

Not a soul among them knew it.

When they saw its natives running

All along the shore to reach them.

Then their hope and courage left them.

For the current sweeping recfwards

The Kings of tlie Reefs.

Si I'M wcuKl cast llicm ri,L;lu u)>()n it;

Then i\\v\ would not die from clrowninij,

lUil froiii rrucl hand of savaL;i',

Kiiowinj; lUMlhcr love iioi i>il\ .

Then from shore a ennvd of Maek men

Ivushed. and w.ided tlirou,L;h the water;

Takinj; o\\ their haeks the stron^^er,

Hearin,ij in their arms th(^ weak ones,

Back to land with jo}- t]ie\- carried ;

Took them to their little village,

Dried, and warmed, and cheered, and fed them,

With the best they had to give them ;

Made them beds of mats to sleep on ;

Kept them safe till white men fetched them.

Thus they saved the twenty sailors ;

Thus the}- treated JJritish seamen.

Seru heard it, and was gladdened.

" Now," he said, " the Faith of Jesus,

True, is changing all the people."

All the islands heard it, saying,

" Now the love of God is tellin^f."

British lands and people hearing.

Said, •• 'Tis good to tame the savage."

Christian men and women heard it,

Saying when they talked it over,

"If in Viti Christ has conquered,

The Kings of the Reefs. 401

Let us take His name and teaching
Far away, to other nations ;
'Twill in time, the world uniting,
Make it quite a home of brothers."

Time went on, and Seru puzzled,
Checked and counter checked, and worried,
In his State affairs and ruling.
Let the thought of British guidance
All his anxious spirit capture.
In his thinking and his toiling,
One, in peace, to make the islands.
Thus he spoke, himself addressing:
*' 'Tis a dream my soul bewitching,
How to bind the lands together.
Severed, though we meet in councils,
Viti cannot be united,
Cannot face her many troubles.
Stars and stripes before us threatening;
White men clamouring for protection; ( <^^^
Red men with us, proud and jealous.
Avaricious, preying on us,
Who can save us, who deliver ?
Only one we know of, Britain,
God's beloved and favoured servant,
Willing, she could help and save us.

J-

^y.

The Kings of the Reefs.

W'c will ask lur, wc will bci; lu-r."
riius the tluHi.i^ht, renrwt'd williin liini,
Foniicd, and l>iggcr j^icw, and l)ii;,i;cr,
Till, as suniiner fruit, it ripened.
Scru and his ncij;hbc»ur rulers,
With the hero chieftain, Maafu,
Thinking, talking, acting wisely,
With the white men all agreeing.
Prayed to Britain's Queen to take them.
So the Queen of Britain took them ;
O'er the lands her flag she hoisted.
Bound in one the severed kingdoms.
Seru glad, the flag beholding,
As it fluttered in the breezes.
Said in lo3-al, solemn earnest,
" One, at last, are all the islands
'Xeath the rule of Christian Britain.
May she give us restful ruling ;
(iive us law and equal justice.
Now is gained the end we aimed for,
Gained, but not as once we sought it ;
Gained, but all by regal dying;
We, the native kings and rulers.
All are dead, the Queen is living ;
God in Heaven preserve and keep her."

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ITI safe from storms and currents,
Seru rested from his steering.
He had brought his ship to anchor,
Run her in behind the bulwarks,
Which are stouter far and stronger
Than the reefs that bar the ocean.

Britain's regal hero servant,
By the Queen thereto commissioned,
Seeking how to honour Seru,

Gave him hearty invitation

To his pleasant home and country.

Seru glad, and nothing fearing

From the ocean, from the distc-^nce ;

Nothing from the land of strangers,

With his suite, in gallant vessel ,

Flying only British colours, !T\V"^ /

Sailed to sec the Austral city.

.H»4 I lit' Kitii^s of tin Reefs.

Thoro ilu" liriiish chief and pcoj^Ic
Gave him welcome, fed and feted
X'iti's last and i^reatest Kuler.

Alter main- da}s of wonder
At tlie whiteman's land and rulers,
At hii^ ships and ehielly houses
Seru sated, weary, home-sick,
Lonjj^ed t() turn his face to Viti,
With its isles of palms and (juiet.
Then a warship, anchor lifting,
Took liim with his court attendants
1-Vom the land of wealth and wonders.

Out at sea his mind was cheerful ;
Cheerful, too, were all his people,
For, the thought of home and country
Made them light of heart and happy.
Soon their sunny brightness vanished ;
Soon their buoyant spirits languished.
Then a something o'er them coming.
New to them, but old to white men,
Made the British sailor-captain
Fear for Seru and his princes.
'Twas a febrile thing and taking;
Languor, shivering, heat, and headache ;

The Kings of the Reefs. 405

Thirst, and breathing hard, and coughing ;
Pains in Hmbs and back distressing,
Marked its early stage and progress.
Then appeared a strange eruption ;
Spots, the face and arms disfigured ;
Spread and covered all the body ;
Fever burning unabated.
Having run its course, the sickness
Waned ; the crescent patches faded ;
While the skin, itself renewing.
Came again as liesh of infant.
Seru and his chiefs recovered
Through the skill of wise physician ;
Through the care of anxious nurses ;
Through the kindness of the white men.
Then they landed, well and hearty.
Glad to see their native country.

Ovalau was full of people —
Princes great and nobles nian\',
Gathered there to welcome Seru.
Now they crowded in the palace ;
Kissed his hand, and sat before him.
Others to his suite resorted,
Asking for the latest tidings
i'^rom the distant worlds and kingdoms.

I 406 The Kings vj the Rafs.

Tlicn llic chK'l> .iiul lril)cs (lis|)cisin,s;-,
Went llu-ir way l»\ luiul and walcr ;
All iheir lioincs and jHopK' seeking;.
ICre tlu'\- roarlu'd lluin nunilxu's sifluiuicl ;
They liad cau,L;lit the tj)idcniic,
Scru, all unwitlinj;, biuu^lu thcni
I'roni ihc while man's wondrous island.
Many turned to stay with strangers,
Hein«,' sick and weak and weary ;
•Never dreaming death was near them.
There they died, and there were buried.
Then from Seru's palace downward,
K'en to smallest peasant dwelling,
Everywhere throughout the islands
Kuse a wail that told the nations
\'iti's very heart was breaking.
Then an awful dread pervaded
All the lands, and tilled with trembling.
All men knew the strange invader,
Mightier far than red men's armies,
Had their homes and islands captured,
And, on every side, was sla}ing
People, who, his arts unknowing.
Fell in hundreds, fell in thousands.
Dead and dying lay, with sick ones.
Side by side with none to bury.

The Kings of the Reefs. 40?

None to comfort, none to nurse them.
Shut were all the schools and churches,
Or to wards were made for patients
Nursed by brave and skilful white men,
Nursed by ladies kind and tender.
Still the monster, death, was rampant,
Leaping rivers, seas, and mountains,
Travelling eastward, travelling westward,
Rushing northward, bounding southward,
Smiting with a heartless smiting,
Maidens, matrons, youth, and veterans ;
Forty thousand were his victims.*
All the land with graves was crowded ;
All the homes, with living in them,
Full of woe and lamentation.

Chief among the mourners mourning,
Seru, with his Samanunu,
With the sympathising chaplain,
Sat and moaned with bitter moaning.

When the awful scourge abated,
I\lcn began to think of deathbeds.
Think of scenes around them witnessed,
And of Christian deeds heroic.

* Out of a population of 150,000, over 10,000 people were destroyed in aix months.

4o8 The Kiiii^'s of the Reefs.

Tlu>usands, \\'\\o had lon^- bitu luathcn,
lUit in later times and htttcr
Had l)ccn tau,L,'lit of (lod our Father,
And of Clirist our elder Brother,
Died in peace, in Jesus trusting.
Whilst the livin<;-, barely 'scaping
Gates of death which gaped upon them,
Thankful, spoke in warmest praises
Of the settlers good among them ;
(X the loving men and women,
\\ ho, in self-forgetful kindness,
Waited on them in their sickness.
Brought them back to life, rejoicing.

Thus the deadly visitation,
W aking deepest human instincts,
Waking love in many bosoms,
Calling forth the Christly spirit.
In the day of general sorrow,
Brought the white and native races
Nearer, closer, each to other ;
Taught them, not alone by treaties,
Xor by bonds together joining,
Men are made the truest brothers,
But through great and common suffering.

^^^^

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|TE7\DY !

&. ROPHETS, white and black predicted,
While the king of terrors ruling,
Swayed his sceptre o'er the islands,
Viti, sternly led by Seru,
Back would turn to temple-worship.
Here and there a tribe unstable,
Having neither name nor standing
'Mong the great and ruling peoples.
Led by wily priests and jealous,

Threw aside the new religion ;

Sought again the demon spirits ;

"Who," they said, "were greatly angered

By the late and sad defection ;

So had brought the direful sickness."

Seru wavered not nor faltered ;

Neither did the island people ;

Hence in time the superstitious,

The Kings of the Reefs.

(iaininy; heart from .L;oud example,
Chose the way of hi^ht and safety.

Seru, not eontent with praying
Vor his stricken, weeping country,
Laboured hard with other workers^
Ills from plague and death to banish ;
Raise the land to life and vigour ;
(iive, instead of ashes, beauty;
Joy for mourning, praise for sadness.
British chief and skilleli physicians
Worked with will to save the people.
All, but men unfeeling, selfish.
Aided in the restoration.
Sought to make the islands prosperous.

Seru, as the need demanded,
Ever ready was, his counsel
Wise to give the British rulers.
Who Were chiefs that greatly valued
Knowledge gained by years uf ruling.
Much they thought of Seru's wisdom;
While himself the)- greatly honoured.
Calm and firm, though oft sarcastic.
Were his speeches; all who heard him
ielt they listened to a statesman.

The Kind's of the Reefs. 411

Moons and years their revolutions
Made, with changes few to notice,
Save that old grew older, young ones
Rose to learn of times departed,
Gone with all their woes and horrors !
Rose to greet the latest ruling,
Greet the teacher and his teaching,
Greet the brighter days and better,
" Sure," they said, " to come and bless us,
If but Britain do her duty."

Seru watched with growing interest
How the British steered the vessel ;
Said with promptness, when 'twas needed,
" Steady 1 Steady ! Keep her steady !"
Did his best to aid her helmsmen.
Oft he thought about the future ;
Wondered if in coming ages
Viti, with its many islands.
Would be full of Viti people,
Or, by white men populated.
Wondered if the land from native
Tribes and owners would be taken,
Or remain in their possession.
'Twas a wrong, a dark susj)icion,
Which, condemning, he abandoned.

4 1 2 The Kin^s of the Reefs.

" l'\)r," said he in hopeful hmguage,
" liril.iin never will allow it ;
Siic will aye protect our children ;
She will aye defend our people ;
We may leave them in her keeping.
'Tis her God-appointed mission,
'Tis her pleasure, 'tis her glory,
Strength to throw around the weakest,
Heeding never what their colour."

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^ EANING on his God and Britain,
Seru, nothing anxious, rested,
More and more as days went past him,
From the toils that worry statesmen.
Now, with age its burdens bringing,
Oft he paused to look before him,
Mark the footprints of the Master,
Order all his goings by them.
Oft he thought of men of valour,

Men that with him rose to power,

Fought, and ruled, and passed as shadows.

Some in sinning, some repenting.

Some the new religion cursing.

Some rejoicing in its comfort.

Oft in nearness came the vision

Of his own decease approaching.

"One by one," he said, "the chieftains

riu Ki!i>:s 0/ (lie Rir/s.

All will soon have travelled forward ;
Most arc ,i;one, who next will follow ?"

Hush! The answer did not tarr}' ;
Soon his old and faithful chaplain
Heard iv^iun the call to duty;
But his duty now was d}ing ;
None so willing, none so ready.
In his sickness he was happy.
Ivound his couch princesses pious,
Seru's daughters, watched and waited ;
With him watched his wife in sorrow ;
Near him Seru sat and pondered.
Near him sat the faithful Elder
Praying now, and then conversing
Sweetly of the love of Jesus.
Peace the chaplain's mind pervaded ;
" For," he said, " I surel}' know Him
Whom I have believed and trusted.
Therefore am I quite persuaded
What to Him I have committed.
He to guard and keep is able."
As his end drew near and nearer,
All the goodness of his lifetime
Seemed to form a shining halo
Round about his brow, and make it

Tlie Kings of the Reefs. 415

Wondrous fair, with deathless beauty.
'Twas to look upon his features,
Calm and full of light and sweetness.
Just as if a serving angel,
Drawing with his hand the curtain
'Twixt the dead and living hanging,
Let the glory in from heaven,
Let it shine in fulness on him.
In its brightness passed his spirit.

All the royal household weeping,
Mourned their loss, and all the city
Wailed a bitter wail at midnight.

On the morrow, o'er the water.
Moved a long and sad procession,
Seru, with his sons and daughters.
Followed next the chaplain's children.
O'er the sea in solemn silence,
Broken only by their paddles,
Went the sad and weeping mourners ;
Went to Viwa's sweet asylum ;
Landing there they bore the coffm
To the place which love had c'hosen.
By the side of Viti's loving ■ •

Friend of Seru, there they laid it,
Wreathed in wreaths by l^ritish ladies

^i() The Klui^s of the Ixeefs.

Made, ill Clin'slian Ionc's rcMncmbr.incc.
Docplv movcnl, tlir weeping; l^Itlor
Road, in sKnv and solemn accents,
I'roni the Hook o( Prayer, the service ;
" I. to all (Ml Me believing,
Am the Life and Resurrection."

" My Redeemer ever liveth ;

Vov mvself I soon shall see Him,

•• From the dead, the Christ is risen ;
He will raise us when He cometh."

" Then shall come to pass the saying,
' Death is swallowed up in vict'r)-.' "

" Thanks to God who vict'ry giveth,
Through Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus."

"Wherefore, brethren, be ye steadfast,
I'lvcr in His work aboundinfr."

The Kings of the Reefs. 417

Seru long his loss lamented ;
Dail}' thought about the chaplain ;
Thought about his life and sayings ;
Called to mind the times of trial,
When the chaplain, sympathising,
Oft would come with words of comfort,
Words that, now his voice was silent.
Came again, as fresh as ever.
Bringing needed consolation.
In his days of sore bereavement,
In his nights of heartfelt sorrow
He could hear the chaplain saying,
" Take it all to God, my brother ;
Let Him know thy every trouble ;
He will hasten to assist thee ;
He will cheer, and bless, and guide thee ;
He will grace and courage give thee ;
He will make thy burden lighter ;
And, before thee stretching onward.
In the sunlight, straight and narrow.
He will show thee (who so able ?)
y\ll the path of happy duty,
yVll the way that leads to glory."

'Twas a cup of cooling water.
From a mountain spring of freshness,
Cheering all the chieftain's spirit.

T/if Kin^s of the Reefs.

Sciu rose and went to duty,
Tbankin,^ Ciod bis Heavenly Father,
That in Kne Me sent the ehaplain,
Speaking to him thrtuigh a Hfetime,
Speaking to him when departed.
Yet, as forth the chief betook liim,
Still within him came the (]uestion,
"Who among us next will follow?"

Hush ! the fleeting moons and seasons,
Came and went, a little longer ;
Then the answer, clearly given,
Told io all within the palace,
Next should follow Samanunu.
So she did, her husband telling
lie would soon be called to follow.
Then she sank, in silence passing,
Yet by signals, none mistaking,
Telling how in Christ she trusted ;
Hf)W that God her sins had pardoned.
In fulhlment of His promise.
Then on sleep, so sweet and peaceful,
Fell to wake in fairest mansion.
Evermore to be with Jesus.

What a life from early girlhood
Had been hers, so full of changes !

The Kings of the Reefs.

419

EEWILPKltlNci A UIIO.SJ',

420 Thf Kings of I he Reefs.

Tr.iiiU'd in Iu>atlicn superstition ;
Hr(.)u«;lu to live in piineeh- harem ;
Hwell ill Mbau tlic dreadful city ;
Witness scenes of blood and ravage !
Such a life would blight an angel
Clad in virtue's whitest vestments ;
Yet the grace of God, in mercy,
To the great and wicked city,
To its proud, benighted monarch,
Made of Ladv Samanunu,
One, that doing angel's duty.
Sought to save the lost and wayward.
Once the lo\e of God had won her,
Love for man her spirit captured ;
Then she worked to save the people.
With her life entwined \vith Seru's
She determined, God her Helper,
Out of ill to draw and keep him.
Who can wonder, when she left him,
Called by (iod, her duty ended,
That his sorrow was so bitter ?
That he felt his life so lonely ?
That again should come the question,
" Who will be the next to follow ?"

Mush ! Not long the answer lingered ;

The Kings of the Reefs. 421

Soon 'twas heard within the palace ;

Soon it said in clearest speaking,

Seru's turn is come to follow.

Then in patience, touched by sickness,

On his couch he lay and waited ;

Waited, hopeful, for the crisis.

Skilled physicians came to see him ;

Saw, and shook their heads, despairing.

Also came a British chieftain,

Sympathising in his sickness,

Anxious for his quick recovery.

Many came, the dying chieftain

Once again to see, and wonder

At the man who oft awakened,

Startled every tribe in Viti.

Now they found the mighty, weakness ;

Now they found the weak one, mighty.

Thus he spoke them, ere they left him ;

" Very great is God's salvation ;

Very great the peace He gives us !

Death is fearful, yet when Jesus

Takes us through it, all its terrors

Vanish in a moment from us."

Once again he said to others.

Who before him sat in silence,

" Unto death be ever faithful.

422 riif Kni'^s of the Reefs.

Then a crown o{ life, our Father
In I lis «;hidncss ,i;rcat will i;ivc )ou."
W lien the sickness gained upon him,
Like a little child and trustful,
To the Lord he turned in prayer :
" Lord, to me do Thou be gracious;
Here 1 lie, Thy will my pleasure.
Life and death are in Thy keeping ;
Thou alone art King and rulest ;
Rule me with Thy loving kindness.''
When the past, in vivid colours,
Showed him how the day had risen
On his dark and erring country,
Wii pronounced a benediction.
Warm and hearty, on the heralds,
Who, the Gospel tidings bearing,
Gladdened all benighted nations.
On the eve of his departure,"
At the solemn hour of midnight,
W aking, he at once remembered
Evening prayers had not been offered.
" Let us pray," he said in earnest.
Then in simple words of prayer,
Led, as oft before, his household.
" Thou, O God, art great and rulest ;
In Thy large compassion save us;

The Kings of the Reefs. 423

Save my children here before Thee.
Give the rulers of our country
Mind and heart to rule in wisdom,
Kindly treat our erring people.
Send Thy Son to all the nations.
Now in pity help Thy servant ;
Teach him how to wait Thy bidding ;
Then in love and mercy take him."
On the morrow, death approaching,
Seru said to all assembled,
"I am trusting in my Saviour;
He has promised ne'er to leave me."
Then there came a solemn silence.
Came a stillness all pervading,
Came the hush that falls on people,
Who, a great event expecting.
Listen with attention, breathless.
Seru, speaking, broke the quiet.
What had happened ? Who, before him
Passmg, made him say it, whisperni
" Hold me, Jesus, Thee I'm holdin
Here the waiting, watching Elder,
Seeing how the change was coming,
Beckoned to the sons and daughters,
Motioned to the household present,
Down to kneel in holy prayer.

424 The Kings of the Reefs.

*' Hold liiin, Jesus, (NtT hold liim,
(iod I>o with llic dyin^^ chicftiiin."
Then llic\- rose, and, looking on him,
S.iw liis spirit had departed.

Mbau, tlie chieti}- isle and city,
Sent a picrcin*^ cry to heaven.
In it joined the tribes and islands.
Every vessel's Hag was lowered.
O'er the land and o'er the ocean,
Swept the news with lightning swiftness,
" lie is dead, the Princely Seru."

Long in state, within the palace,
Lay the last remains of Seru ;
Three full moons the nation kept him.
All that passed the sacred precincts
Mourning, lowly bowed their bodies.
Humbly, slowly w^ent and softly.
Then the lords and princes many ;
Tribal heads and ancient warriors ;
Judges, magistrates, and soldiers ;
Every class of civil servants ;
Clergy, teachers, loyal students ;
Common people from the islands ;
Common people from the mainland,

The Kings of the Reefs. 425

Came with men of many countries ;
Came with British chiefs and people ;
Came, and bore away the chieftain ;
Laid him by the kings of Mbaukmd,
In his final place of resting ;
British warship in the harbour,
Firing minute guns of honour.

Thus did Viti and the nations,
Thus did Britain, nobly leading,
Show the last regards for Seru.
Men in all their talk about him,
Seemed agreed his evil doings,
Ere his wondrous reformation,
Never more to name among them.
O'er his grave, as from it turning,
Those who knew him best and longest,
Love's great law preferred and followed.
"Love," they said, "is kmd, enduring;
Covers multitudes of errors,
Both from men and God our Lather.
Let us therefore now remember
All the good he did when living ;
What he left unfinished, dying,
Let us go in faith and do it.''

I' 42() The Kiiii^s of I he Reefs.

Mi-n ot \ 111, ne'er forp^etting,
lK)\v tor many )cars he loved them,
Souglu to make tliem free and happy,
Said, in sad and sober earnest,
" Sinee he turned to be a Christian,
lie a friend has been to Viti ;
He lias i^ladly fought her battles;
Stood for rights, and often won them.
Who will now, as he, befriend us ?"

"fwas the thought of little children,
Who, the loss of parent mourning,
Wonder who will be their father.
Seru had the answer left them,
Knowing they would some day need it ;
So, before he died, he told them,
God and Britain would befriend them.

:^2^

-=&i^>-

4^..

f^>^e,

^v%»sisisis5

INDEX

1 FORESHADOWED ..

•-' LANDMARKS

3 THK OLD WORLD AWAITS THE NEW

I THE NEW WORLD SURPRISES THE OLD

:. A CHIEFLY RESOLVE

I-. WHITE AND BLACK HANDS CLASP

7 HOSPITALITIES

« OVER THE KORO SEA

;• THE SWIMMING SEER

10 HOW HE SWAM

11 AS IT IS THIS DAY
1-2 THE FOUNDERS OF EMPIRE
l:< THE GREAT ESTATES
11 A MYSTERIOUS INVADER
1.-, THE OUTLOOK

If. I AUi WIND AND FOUL WEATHER

17 THAT AWFUL FISH

IS A CRUSTY LITTLE SOLDIER

i;» THE NAMELESS WHITE MAN

2() THE MONSTER CANOE

21 HOW SHE WAS LAUNCHED . .

2> THE CHAMPION CLIMBER

23 FROM ALOFT

•it THERE AND BACK..

r.\GK.
9

!.■
1(5
18
•21
2d
•20
29
32
11
\l
■17

<;i

78
81

TJie Kings of the Reefs.

429

P.\GE.

A BOLD CHALLENGE

2(;

A SKULL..

A SPY . .

DUMB WITH WONDER

A GBEAT THOUGHT

101

TAKING SOUNDING

103

COLOSSUS

104

WELL CAUGHT

lOG

LOST, BUT NOT FOR EVER" . .

108

BURNT FINGERS ..

112

THE WHITE CRITIC

114

3(i

THE BLACK CRITIC

117

W'HICH WAS RIGHT ?

119

NEWS

121

NIGHT VISIONS

124

HE DREAMS

.. .. 127

A MESSAGE FROxM THE KING

130

POSSESSED

132

HE SLEEPS

135

A WAR OF ELEMENTS

13S

NOTHING DAUNTED

141

4(5

ONLY SCOTCHED ..

143

HOPES AND FEARS

145

PARLEY ..

148

TACT

150

THE MIDNIGHT CACKLE

152

THE BEST FOR THE GODS . .

L54

WORDS NOT DEEDS

150

FESTINA LENTE ..

1(11

THE NEUTRALS .. .. .. ' .

103

WHAT SHIP?

105

A NEW BOW AND ARROW ..

107

THUMP AND THUNDER

1(19

58"

TRIUMPHANT

171

The Kini^s of the Reefs.

ol> WJUTi: SAYAGKS .

r.0 A HEKO ANCKSTOU

01 HIS SONd

C2 ELOrEMENT

ra A STONE OF DESTINY

t.» A IJOVAL 131 UTH ..

C. SHE I^ DEAD

m IN THE CITY OF MANY \VATERS

07 THE rOETS RIDDLE

08 THEY GIYE IT UP
O'.i A TROrHECY

70 NO RESPECTOR OF PRINCES

71 LIKE A FISH IN \VATER

72 RESPECT FOR ELDERS
7.i THE TRICKSY TRIBES
7 1 HOLY GROUND

ir, THE MAGIC STONE

70 REIGN OF TERROR

77 FLOODS OF TEARS

7 s RECALLED

7'.» RED HANDS

kO ^YATER CHILDREN

Hi A MAN ..

vi THE CITY OF TEMPLES

H3 THE FINNY TRIBES

*<\ WllkT ^VAS IN HIM

8.J SERVE THEM RIGHT

hi; startles the NATION

h7 a HERO RIVAL

H.S REMOVING MOUNTAINS

HO BACHELORS, BEWARE

tiO A WHITE PROPHET

111 THE QUEEN CANOE

'x> AT THE HELM

rAOK.

172

17(i
17!I
IHt
18'.)
192
194
197
201
203
20G
208
212
214
218
221
228
22y
23C

235

23S
210
243
248
250
254
25n
258
261
2G7
270
277
285

The Kings of the Reefs.

431

I'AGE.

THE FEIEND OF SERU

•292

A SWEET ASYLUM

297

THE DANCE OE DEVILS . .

1301

THE BRITLSH SISTERS

:iO()

THE MOUTH OF HELL

309

GOOD COUNSEL . .

313

THE SPIRIT WORLD

317

100

THE EARNEST PLEADER . .

-325

101

GOOD POINTS

332

102

LAUGHS AT DIFFICULTIES

335

103

COMMANDER IN CHIEF

311

104

A SEA OF TROUBLES

347

105

A RIFT IN THE CLOUDS . .

351

lOG

BETHINKS HIM ..

354

107

FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT

358

108

THE RED MEN ..

304

109

A GREAT VICTORY

369

110

MAN AND WIFE . .

378

111

GALA DAYS

383

> FRIENDS IN NEED

388

^9-

113

GORGON

394

ONE AT LAST

399

115

FULL OF GRAVES

403

ll(j

STEADY! ,

409

117

HUSH! ..

413

^^T ■

1 1

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ftCU U>-URI

NOV 221972

PR9619.2 .C188I

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UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY

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