A VISIT-TO MARINER’S CAVE.

Evening Star, Issue 3280, 25 August 1873, Page 3

A VISIT-TO MARINER’S CAVE.

On a recent visit of H.M.S. Dido to Vavau, one of the islands of the Friendly Group, some of her officers visited a most remarkable cave. The party proceeded by boat to the island of Hoonga, distant about seven miles from Rei&fu. On arriving at the island the native guide showed us the exact spot where tbe entrance of the gave was; we took the boat in as close as possible to the rocks, and there anchored her in five and a half fathoms. We could see the entrance of the cave about seven feet under water. One of the natives jumped overboard and dissappeared through the aperture, one of our party closely following him, they both reappeared in about seven or eight minutes, and told us that it was all clear. Then three others belonging to our party jumped overboard and disappeared through the aperture, two out of the three arriving at the cave, without mishap, but the third unfortunately got jammed in the entrance among some rocks, and had it not been for the timely assistance of a native ho must have been drowned. To get into this cave one has to dive first of all about eight feet, and then from twenty to twentylive feet horizontally. This cavern, commonly called the Lovers’ Cave, is a magnificent sight; it is, as near as I could judge, about seventy feet long, thirty feet wide, and seventy feet high. It has a deep pool in the centre, the water of which is very salt, remarkably clear, and very phosphorescent. The pool is about fifty feet deep, ami so clear that a person sitting on the side of the cave can see every stone at the bottom. The water vises every minute some three or four feet, causing a mist which fills the cave, disapporaing as the water recodes in a most extraordinary manner ; this mist is very painful to the eye. While a person is swimming in this water, his head and shoulders appear to be quite black, but the pait of the body immersed, appears as white as snow. Duriag the time you are entering tbe cave nothing is visible, the passage through the rook being perfectly dark until you rise to the surface inside ; but the case is different when returning to daylight, as it is quite light, enabling one to see the bottom and | and both sides of the passage, and the re*

flection of the boat outside. The cave is illuminated by light from the entrance reflected through the water, which gives it the appearance of subdued moonlight. The cave is hung all over with most beautiful statlact'tes. some dropping eight orten feet; thesides are masses af staglamile and rocks, affording seats to those who enter. This cave was first discovered by a young chief while pursuing a turtle. The legend of this wonderful cavern is as follows A certain chief raise I an insurrection against the ruling chief at S avau ; his plot was discovered, and he was condemned to be massacred, with all his family. His daughter, a beautiful girl, was beloved by the young chief that had discovered the cave, which he had kept a profound secret. He effected her escape at night, and conducted her in a small canoe to the rock of Hoonga, where he leapt into the water instructing her to follow him, which she did, and they both rose in the cave. In this strange place he kept his betrothed for twelve months, bringing her food, &c.. in the dead of night. To accomplish her release, this young chief persuaded his inferior chiefs to accompany him on a voyage to Fiji. A large canoe being prepared they put to sea. His people asked him, on leaving, if he would not take a wife with him, to which be replied that he would pick one up out of the sea. Approaching the rock of Hoonga he steered close in shore, and suddenly jumping overboard disappeared. While the people in the canoe were debating as to what had become of him, he reappeared with a beautiful female, whom they recognised as her whom they believed had been put to death. They pursued their voyage to Fiji, where the young couple landed, and are living there now to the best of my belief.