INTERIOR OF NAVITI LEVUE. Ill 



am at this moment suffering from its effects, from an accident which 

 occurred a month ago. There is no eruption, but it is most painful 

 when exposed to the influence of water. In some places this Nettle is 

 called Kau Tambua ; it is best known as Salato. I also collected seve- 

 ral Grasses, which are not common. A large species of Flagellaria 

 was climbing up the trees, quite distinct from the one at the Isle of 

 Pines, as you will find upon examination. The rain came down in 



torrents during the whole day ; and it was with some reluctance I re- 

 turned to the town about three o'clock. I found there was more for 

 me to do. A native had brought a cone of what they called Nelakua 

 laki: I also found there was another, named ambalavu, which they 

 said were both quite different from Nelakua nelina ; I therefore lost no 

 time in going off, with a native, to the town of Bacindua, five miles 

 distant, and got specimens of the laki, with cones, also the ambalavu, 

 at a place called Sobel, on the face of a hill covered with wood, close 

 to the river between the last-mentioned town and Vumabua. I was 

 at first inclined to think they were different from the Nelakua nelina ; 

 but from a cone and specimens afterwards obtained at Namosi, it turned 

 out there was no difference. In this way the distinction takes place 

 amongst the natives: anything short and thick is termed laki; when 

 long, ambalavu. The following is an account of the Conifer which I 

 sent in to Captain Denham. " The natives recognize two sorts of Nela- 

 kua nelina, Nelakua ambalavu (long), and Nelakua laki (short), cha- 

 racterized by the habit of the trees, and resulting from the position, 

 exposure in the open country, or protection amongst the forest-trees, 

 and other circumstances that might influence its variation ; but from 

 the minutest examination of the cones and foliage, they appear to me 

 to be referable to one species of Dammar a, Nelakua salsalu. The 

 generic term Nelakua has no doubt been applied to this tree by the 

 natives, from the comparison of the tissue of the wood with that of 

 the Dammar a, as the foliage would not be likely to indicate any alliance 

 to the untutored eye. Vaivai ; this tree we discovered on Wia Manue": 

 examples were seen between 80 and 90 feet high, and 13 feet in circum- 

 ference. Kau solo ; the only example of this that fell under our observa- 

 tion at Vunabua, on the Wai Nelina, or True River, appeared to be 

 about 60 feet in height, and perfectly straight, foliage similar, but 

 smaller than that of the Vaivai. Kau Tambua, occurring at 1 lamasia, on 

 the Wai Nelina, has foliage smaller than that of Nelakua salsalu, but in 



