API ISLAND. 



345 



quitous tropical Littoral plant (Ipo?ncea pes caprce). It is always 

 the first plant above the high-water mark in these tropical 

 shores. Above a skirting of this commenced a thick growth of 

 largish trees, a species of Barringtonia, a Fig, and the common 

 Pandanns of the Pacific Islands occupying the shore margin. 

 A few paces inside the wood it was gloomy, from the thickness 

 of the growth of trees and creepers overhead. The same climb- 

 ing Aroids grew here as at Fiji, and a Dracmna was common, and 

 also a beautiful climbing Asclepiad (Hoya) with white waxy 

 flowers, and one or two ferns. I could not penetrate the wood 

 far enough to get any adequate idea of the 

 nature of the vegetation. Five birds were 

 shot in Api, Artamus melaleucus (a Shrike), 

 a Swallow (Hirundo Tahitica), a Swift, a 

 Fruit Pigeon, and the Kingfisher {Halcyon 

 julice). I saw no sea birds. 



The Api men wore as clothing nothing 

 but a narrow bandage of dirty European 

 fabric of various kinds. They are a small 

 race, few, I should say, being above five feet 

 in height. Their limbs, and especially their 

 legs, are small and badly shaped. They are 

 much darker in colour than Fijians ; they 

 seemed quiet enough. Several amongst those 

 we saw were returned labourers, and were at 

 once known by their having fastened to their 

 waist cloth the key of the chest which every 

 labourer brings back with him, containing 

 the fruits of his toil. The labourers thus 

 retain the property for which they have 

 worked even in Api. Two men joined me 

 on the reef. One had been in Queensland, 

 the other in Fiji. Both spoke a good deal of 

 English ; and one said he was willing to go 

 to Fiji again. 



Nearly all the men wore a small trian- 

 gular ornament, cut out of one of the septa 

 of the pearly Nautilus shell, and threaded by the syphon hole in 



CHARM CCT OCT OF THE 

 SEPTUM OF A NAUTILUS 

 SHELL, AND EARRING MADE 

 OF TORTOISESHELL, AND A 

 PIG'S TAIL. API ISLAND. 



