es to venture,
as we had to perform the voyage in a small canoe, and should be away the
whole day; but Harry told Charlie and Dick Tilston, Nat and me, that we
might go.

We started at daylight in two canoes, with an ample supply of provisions
on board, Nat and I accompanying the young chief Alea. He could speak a
little English, and gave us an interesting legend connected with one of
the caves.

Years ago, a chief had rebelled against the king of the country, when,
being defeated, he and his family were condemned to death. He had a
very beautiful daughter, who had a lover belonging to another family.
Having gained intelligence of the intention of the king to exterminate
the family of his beloved, he hastened to her, and managed, without
being discovered, to carry her on board a small canoe which he had in
waiting. She asked how he could possibly hope to escape by such means
from the vengeance of the king, who would destroy him as well as
herself. He told her not to fear--that he had a place of concealment,
where, notwithstanding the most vigilant search which could be made for
her, she would never be discovered. They paddled away till they reached
a cliff which rose out of the water.

"I see no cavern in which I can be concealed," she said.

"Fear not; I will conduct you to one, notwithstanding," he answered,
and, taking her hand, desired her to leap overboard.

Trusting him to the full, she obeyed; and, both diving, they swam for
some distance, till they rose in the centre of a large cavern with
rocks, free of water, on one side of which there was sufficient space to
rest. Here he told her that she might remain secure, and that he would
bring her food every night, till he could make arrangements for their
escape to Fiji. He had discovered the cavern, he said, not long before,
when diving for a turtle. He was unable to fulfil his promise till he
came, one night, and told her that a large double canoe, with friends of
his, was waiting outside. They were soon on board, and arrived safely
in Fiji, where they remained till the death of the king enabled them to
return to Vavau. From this legend Byron draws a romantic account of
Neuha's Cave in his poem of "The Island."

As our friend had not described the first cave to which he took us, we
were surprised and delighted with it. The mouth was of considerable
width, sufficient to admit two or three boats abreast. Once inside, the
water was fully five fathoms