INTERIOR OF NAVITI LEVUE. 13 3 



young chiefs and two of his slaves, into the mountains, and found a 

 few interesting plants ; one in particular attracted my attention, from 

 its ornamental habit, with pink flowers. I got a few seeds, and hope 

 they will turn out good ; Order Melastomacece. Several Orchidea were 

 hanging from the trees, of which I procured plants. One thing was 

 very much against me; I had to leave my paper at Vunabua, as it was 

 utterly impossible to get anything heavy up that shallow stream : I was 

 in the hopes of getting a small portion taken to Nomosi, for any plants 

 which might come in the way. When I mentioned my desire to Mr. 

 Waterhouse, he said, If so, you will have to carry it. The paper was 

 left, much against my will. I went out every day, and brought in fresh 

 specimens, that they might keep until I got to Vunabua, where I could 

 transfer them to paper. I found a number of fruits : I am afraid they 

 will not keep, being too green when taken from the trees. I was in- 

 formed by Damford that a small-leaved Pine was in the district ; also 

 a tree with a Strong aromatic smell, the bark being used by the natives 

 as an astringent. I found both species ; the former I think is a Pine, 

 and I got a small section of the wood, and enclose a small specimen ; 

 the latter, a Laurus, the Nelakua nelina, is plentiful in the district. 

 The Gum, or Mackandra of the natives, is used for burning in the 

 houses in place of oil. There are very few Cocoa-nut-trees inland ; on 

 that account oil is scarce. 



Tuesday, September 2nd. — I went out into the mountains with my 

 young friend the chief, and found two Ferns, which were new to me ; 

 one an Asplenium ; as for the other, I have had no time to examine it. 

 I found a number of other things, and several Orchids. 



Wednesday, 3rd— We left this depot of cannibalism, with my boxes 

 well filled with specimens and plants ; but poor Damford was crying 

 like a child ; perhaps we were the last white men that he will ever see. 

 I will pass over our descent until our arrival at Naitasiri. I was in- 

 formed that a number of la _ 



the woods j so with one of the natives I went out to find them ; cer- 

 tainly they were among the largest I had seen. They measured from 

 18 to 27 feet in circumference, and from 40 to 90 feet in height. I 

 obtained both cones and young plants, which are in my possession. 

 This district is richly wooded. We left Naitasiri, and ascended the 

 river for some distance, and took to another branch of the rim, called 

 Uluna Nelina, and got as far as a town called Koro Ubautan, when 



VOL. IX. 



V 



