FLORA OF THE VITIAN ISLANDS. ix 
and thence proceeding to Namosi, the mountain residence of Chief Kuruduadua, situated 
in a rich valley (see Frontispiece). From Namosi we paid a visit to Voma, the highest. peak 
. of Viti Levu, never before ascended by white man. I remained at Namosi until the 2nd of 
September, and then returned to the coast with a goodly collection of rare or new plants. 
Mr. Pritchard, who had previously gone back, met me at the mouth of the Navua River 
with our little schooner; we thence proceeded to the island of Bega (Benga), and 
afterwards to Kadavu, where we effected a landing near Buke Levu, and succeeded in 
ascending that mountain on September 6th, no European having ever reached the top 
before. The vegetation was found to be similar to that of Voma Peak in Viti Levu, though 
the two are separated by sea. Calling once more at Taulalia, we thence crossed over 
to Rewa (encountering a fearful gale), and returned te Lado. Our schooner having 
been repaired, we again left Lado (October 10), landing at Nananu Levu (Annan of 
the charts, by mistake) and afterwards proceeded to Bua, or Sandalwood Bay, in Vanua 
Levu, where we landed. We continued our voyage to the northern coast of Vanua Levu, 
called Macuata (Mathuata), where we went on shore in various places, and rounding 
Mua i Udu (the eastern extremity of Vanua Levu), we touched at the island of Rabe, and 
anchored at Waikava, whence I paid a hasty visit to Somosomo, to inspect the experimental 
cotton plantation I had established there. On the 26th of October, we left Waikava for 
Matei, in Taviuni; and thence once more proceeded to Macuata, and afterwards to Lado, 
which we reached on the 2nd of November. On the 16th of that month I left Ovalau 
for Europe, arriving at Southampton on the 12th of March, 1861, very much shattered in 
health from a violent attack of dysentery on the homeward voyage. Desirous of making the 
most of the limited time and opportunity, I engaged at Sydney, at my own expense, a 
young German, Mr. Jacob Storck, as assistant, who proved very able and zealous; but, 
unfortunately, nearly during the whole time that he was with me he was incapacitated for 
work through various kinds of illness. On my departure he expressed a wish to remain in 
Viti as a cotton grower; and he has since that time made several collections of plants, which 
are duly incorporated with this Flora. On my return to England I wrote a full official 
report “ On the Resources and Vegetable Productions in the Vitian or Fijian Islands,” which 
was printed with other matters relating to the subject which the Viti mission was dispatched 
to elucidate, and presented to Parliament by command of her Majesty ; and also published 
and figured in the ‘ Bonplandia’ several new genera and species, as well as a preliminary list 
of the plants collected by me. A general account of the expedition was brought out by me in 
1862 under the title of * Viti; an Account of a Government Mission to the Vitian or Fijian 
Islands in the years 1860-61. With Illustrations and a Map (London and Cambridge, 
Macmillan), which met with a favourable reception from the press. Colonel Smythe, the 
head of the expedition, wrote a short official report, which is reprinted in the Appendix to 
my ‘Viti; where it fills nine pages; but his wife, who ‘accompanied him, afterwards 
published a narrative of the Mission in a separate form. 
