114 EXCURSION INTO NAVITI LEVUE. 



we were turned back by the natives. We returned once more to Nai- 

 tasiri. We afterwards explored the Wai Manue, one of the most im- 

 portant districts in the large land ; it leads off from the town of Navusi. 

 When you ascend this river for fourteen miles you are in the heart of 

 a mountain forest, where large trees abound close to the sides of the 

 river. It was here where I found the Vaivai> and fortunately young 

 plants, which are at this moment in a good condition. I measured a 

 very large tree, 13 feet in circumference, and from 80 to 90 feet in 

 height, and also found a number of young plants of Salsalu, which is 

 doing well. The natives speak of six different sorts of Dontue, genus 

 Calophyllum (?) ; there is Laki ambalavu, and so on ; I only make 

 out three. I collected a number of the branches and dried them. 

 I will send as many of the native names as possible. The timber in 

 this district is in general useful, and with little trouble could be floated 

 down to the sea. There was one fine flowering shrub on the banks of 

 the stream, and I have got two young plants. Amongst the stones in 

 the bed of the river, was what appeared to be a small flowering Torina, 

 and another interesting plant climbing over the tops of the bushes ; it 

 is called Wa nelakua, from the close resemblance of the foliage to the 

 Nelakua nelina : there is a great similarity in the venation. It belongs 

 to LiliacecB) and answers to all the characters of that Order. I have 

 secured one young plant. There is a tree also which bears large quan- 

 tities of gum, which has a strong smell of camphor; I obtained one 

 young plant, with gum, and found a number of other good things in 

 this district, and there is a great deal more to be done. I am in hopes 

 that a survey of the river will take place, and am certain Captain Den- 

 ham, with his usual love for the advancement of science, will not lose 

 an opportunity of exploring the botany of Naviti Levue. On the 

 heights of Roroa, on the Wai Manue, Mr. M c Donald had the good 

 fortune to discover fossil impressions of the roots of trees, small forked 

 branches occurring in stratified rocks, on which the town stands, and 

 at an elevation of about 400 feet above the level of the sea. The 

 vertebrae and larger bones of fishes were also detected. None of the 

 vegetable woody tissues were discoverable in the fossils. I shall omit 

 the particulars of our journey down the river, as nothing particular 

 occurred. 



We finally arrived at Ovolau on Wednesday, September 24, and re- 

 mained on board, amongst my specimens and live plants, until the 





