BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 153 
requested a friend to forward the paper to Mr. Smith. Angan, another 
of the Fiji group, which we visited after Moala, has much the same 
vegetation, but possesses a larger number of Cryptogamous plants, some 
of which I expect are’novelties. Without boasting, I may say that I 
have availed myself of every opportunity for collecting and for exploring - 
the interior of the islands where we touched. Often and often I have 
passed nights on the ground, even while rain fell in torrents, which 
caused me a fortnight of sharp fever, before leaving the Fiji Islands. 
At Angan and Ovulan, which we next visited, I gathered many 
Orchidee, and have now between sixteen and eighteen plants of this 
tribe growing in a glazed case. The latter island is very mountainous, 
and its vegetation is peculiarly rich. By the margin of a large river 
in the heart of the island, I saw a solitary specimen of the Fiji Dam- 
mara, and learned, upon inquiry, that it had been brought hither from 
à neighbouring island by one of the natives, who planted it. The tree 
Stew near a large native town, called Labbania, fourteen miles from 
Lavuka, where our ship was anchored; here I was alone, and obliged 
to trust myself entirely to the mercy of the people, whose reception of 
me at first was not particularly friendly. The principal chief was ab- 
sent; but when he returned he treated me very kindly, ordered fish to 
be caught, a pair of fowls killed, and pork to be cooked for me, and 
forbade any annoyance being caused to me, on pain of death. I gave 
him several articles, with which he’ was much delighted, and finding 
that his protection was to be trusted, I remained two days among them _ 
collecting plants on the mountains. I afterwards returned to the same © 
town with Mr, Macgillivray, and he and I examined their heathen — 
temples. There are several Europeans on the island of Ovulan, who - 
Own small cutters, with which they trade in the. Fijis. A Missionary - 
also resides there, and the natives are well inclined towards Christianity. _ 
There is a large population among the mountains. Just now, dreadful — 
Wars are raging, caused by the cruelties of the King of Boro, or Baw, — 
—— whom the people of Fiji are very anxious to deprive of all power, and 
. to vest the authority in the hands of a ruler who shall be less sangui- 
nary. This wretch has sacrificed thousands of lives, generally making 
brethren the instruments of his atrocities :—parents have slain and eaten 
their children, and children their parents, at his command ; this is the 
cause of the war which is now desolating the whole Fijian Archipelago. _ 
Our Captain next went to Ban and kindly allowed me-to accompany 
VOL. VII. x 
