THE MONTANE FLORA OF FIJI. 131 
Both these rivers rise in the Mt. Victoria range, which forms the water- 
shed. This range is situated, as will be seen from the map *, in the extreme 
north-west of the island. То the windward or S.E. portion, which includes the 
major part, the rainfall is very great and the vegetation of tropical luxuriance; 
whilst the N.W. or leeward side receives drying winds, the moisture of the S.E. 
trade being condensed by the ranges of mountains crowned by Mt. Victoria. 
This dry country forms a narrow belt on the north, but widens out considerably 
on the western side. It is undulating, rising to high ridges in parts, and 
for several months of the year receives next to no rainfall. Trees occur 
in the soak areas on the mountain-slopes, and fringe the streams. Otherwise 
this country is chiefly reed-covered (Miscanthus japonicus, Anderss.). 
Of the chief botanical collections made in Fiji, the first was by Hinds and 
Barclay in 1840, who accompanied Sir Edward Belcher in H.M.S. * Sulphur." 
Brackenridge, Rich, and Pickering, botanists to the United States Exploring 
Expedition under Captain Wilkes, which touched at the islands in 1840, made 
important collections, the results of which were published by Asa Gray in his 
splendid work, ‘The Botany of Wilkes’ U.S. Exploring Expedition.’ 
In 1856 Milne, who was attached as naturalist to H.M.S. * Herald,’ under 
Captain Denham, collected in the islands, which at about this time were also 
visited by Professor Harvey of Dublin for the same purpose. The most 
important work, however, was done by Dr. Seemann in 1860-61, who, as 
botanist, accompanied a Government Mission sent from England to Fiji 
to report on the advisability of annexation. Seemann visited many districts 
in both Viti and Vanua Levu and a number of the smaller islands, and. 
succeeding botanists owe him a great debt of gratitude for the admirable 
way in which he embodied his own results and those of all previous 
collections in the ‘Flora Vitiensis” Dr. Eduard Graeffe, a zoologist, 
visited Viti Levu in 1862, and collected many plants which were included in 
Seemann’s ‘Flora? In 1877 Horne, then Director of the Botanic Gardens 
at Mauritius, spent a year in the country collecting, at the invitation of the 
Governor, Sir Arthur Gordon. 
More recently, Sir J. B. Thurston made several small collections, while 
Governor of the Islands ; and the present Governor, Sir Everard im Thurn, 
whose work of exploration and botanical collections in British Guiana are 
well known, has collected largely during his tenure of ottice, especially 
orchids and ferns, in which he is chiefly interested, The publication of his 
results will be awaited with interest in the botanical world. 
Previous collectors having chiefly explored the coasts of the different 
islands, the actual montane species known were limited to those found by 
Seemann and Horne on Voma Peak in Viti Levu, under 4000 ft. high, 
and by Seemann, Graeffe, and Storck оп Buke Levu, 2500 ft., the highest 
* The dotted line roughly indicates the limits of the forest-clad S.E. region. The 
mountain ranges of the interior have been omitted. 
