Disturbances in Fiji.

Bruce Herald, Volume IX, Issue 802, 12 May 1876, Page 7

Disturbances in Fiji.

An Auckland telegram dated May 9th says :— " The Llewellyn haa arrived from Levuka. Renewed disturbances have occurred among the Mountaineers of Yiti Levu. In consequence of the reported restlessness of the Hill Tribe, Captains Olive and Carew, with a force of about 200 armed native troops, were despatched from the mountain region of Vitt Levu about two months back. They were forbidden by the mountain chiefs to continue their march into the country, and as the object of the expedition was more to keep the insurgents quiet than to provoke hostilities,^the force encamped at a respectful distance. On the 18th of April the two officers in charge were startled at hearing that the rebels had descended on the opposite side of the ranges, and laid waste several coast villages near the River Sangitoto, committing in their raid most frightful atrocities. No precise particulars of the amount of destruction done has been received, bub it was reported that thirty villages have been ravaged. In many cases the inhabitants— men, women, and children — were massacred in a most brutal manner, being thrown into the burning houses and roasted alive. On the receipt of this intelligence Captain Olive started for Levuka as soon as possible, and conveyed a statement of the condition of affairs to the Governor. Meanwhile the Coast chiefs did not remain idle. They collected their forces and marched against the Mouutameera. Reinforcements have been despatched from I Levuka to subdue the rebels."