INTERIOR OF NAVITI LEVUE. 107 



and the wild-ducks rippled the surface of the water * We reached the 

 Christian town of Navusa, where we found the chief, Kama Naitasiri, 

 the highest chief in the district. 



Sunday \ 15th. — We spent the day at Navusa, where, through the 

 able assistance of Mr. Waterhouse, arrangements were made for our 

 future proceedings. Kama Naitasiri assented to form one of the party 

 and introduce us to his people on our way up the river. 



Monday, 16th. — We left Navusa for Naitasiri, being the next Chris- 

 tian town on the river. We had a ship's long-boat, called the c Vic- 

 toria/ belonging to the JJev. Mr. Moore ; it formerly belonged to the 

 ship c Lady Franklin, 5 at the time a mutiny broke out close to the 

 Feejee Islands, when a number of convicts escaped from the ship in the 

 above boat : it was retaken by Captain Denham at Ovolau. The small 

 dingy and a single-canoe formed our armada. In passing along I 

 great clumps of Tree-ferns, belonging to the genus Cyathea. The 

 Areca Palm was becoming more frequent j the fruit at all times is from 

 five to six feet from the apex, encircling the stipes. It is not unfre- 

 quent to see large clumps of these beautiful trees upon the face of the 

 banks. Several species of Convolvuluses now adorned the sides with 

 their white, pink, and blue flowers, and a species of Crinum, with white 

 flowers, are frequent in woody places along the banks ; so that, what 

 with Graminece and Cyperacece, there was ample scope for a collector; 

 but I was somewhat confined in my researches, being in charge of the 

 boat, and, owing to the intricate navigation, with all our caution more 

 than once we got aground. At 8.30 we arrived at our place of des- 

 tination, and found Dr. M'Donald, with Mr. Waterhouse, quartered at 



the teacher's bouse. 



Tuesday, Yith.— The weather being somewhat unfavourable, we did 

 not prosecute our journey. I went out collecting with the chief, Kama 

 Naitasiri, through a fine woody country, and found several interesting 

 shrubs, which fortunately were in flower. One belonged to Scrophula- 

 rinea; (in this instance there were only two stamens, as in Veronica), 

 and another tree belonging to Leguminosce. It was past flowering. I 

 only saw one seed-pod. There were several other species of shrubs, 

 and a number of Ferns, i Two of the latter in particular attracted my 

 attention; one with broad, compound fronds, the indusium somewhat 

 reticulated, aud having young plants proceeding upon the points of the 

 fronds ; the other, I think, belongs to the genus Dicksonia, if I may 



