362 LETTER FROM MR. MACGILLIVRAY. 



ture, caused by local influences, unfavourable to the growth of the 

 Perns and other inhabitants of dense and moist woods, so numerous in 

 Aneiteum. Among the more remarkable plants not before alluded to 

 (Cocoa-nut, Bread-fruit, reed-like Grass, Yam, Taro, Horse-taro, Kava, 

 etc.), I may mention the pui-ple- flowered Eugenia^ and the Areca of 

 Aneiteum, a Camarina frequenting the shores, a small Pandanus^ with 

 very long stolons, which is gregarious and abundant, and from the 

 leaves of which baskets and mats are made ; and lastly, Guettarda spe- 

 ciosay the beautiful white blossoms of which ornamented the rugged 

 and parched coral-rocks at the N.W. point. Futuna, I may mention, 

 is only about seven miles in circumference, with a steep rocky shore, 

 fringed with coraL It is well wooded, except where the declivity is too 

 great; and the summit (2000 feet) is a dead level, three-quarters of 

 a mile in diameter, and apparently inaccessible. Thanks to the in- 

 fluence of the two native teachers from Aneiteum, the Futunese are 

 now so much less dangerous to visitors than formerly, that I lauded 

 alone and unarmed in a canoe (our own boat being unable to face the 

 surf), and traversed the whole island, mixing freely with the people, 

 inspecting their huts and gardens, etc., and was treated with civility 

 throughout. 



On the night of passing Tana (Tanna), the volcano made a fine dis- 

 play. By the bye, we had experienced a severe shock of an earthquake 

 at Aneiteum, one day soon after our arrival. On December 7, while 

 hove-to off the island of Mare, two boats were sent on shore, but I 

 had not the opportunity of landing. One of the principal features 

 of this island consists in the abundance of Pines, which were easily re- 

 cognized, and afterwards identified (from cones brought off) as Eutassa 

 Cookii, 



On December 10 we reached the Isle of Pines, on our return to 

 Sydney, and remained ten days there, or until the completion of the 

 survey. Fortunately, this time I was enabled to obtain good flovvenng 

 specimens of the Santalnm formerly alluded to. 



We anchored off Lord Howe Island on the 26th, after having spent 

 a very merry Christmas on very small means. We had no roast beef, 

 but managed to concoct a plum-pudding, and, like Mark Tapley, made 

 ourselves "jolly under the circumstances." During the few hours 

 spent on shore there, the most notable botanical fact was the discovery, 

 on the site of our tent, of a clump of fine turnips, derived no doubt 



