FIJI-NEW ZEALAND EXPEDITION 31 
dant as in the tropical Atlantic, particularly near Barbados where 
they are so plentiful as to be one of the most abundant and high- 
ly prized market fish. At night hardly a gleam of phosphores- 
cence was seen as we bent over the rail and watched the rush of 
the passing waters. The loneliness of the vast stretches of the 
Pacific impressed us strongly throughout our entire trip. 
The weather was decidedly warm, but not uncomfortably so. 
Light summer underclothes were donned and outing suits were in 
evidence; white duck seemed to be the proper thing, and the 
clothes purchased for the Hawaiian cruise of the ‘‘ Albatross’’ 
twenty years ago were again in service. Deck sports served to 
pass the time pleasantly for most of us. The British are inveter- 
ate sportsmen the world over and a ‘‘Sports Committee’’ is chosen 
on every voyage to manage the various tournaments. Seasickness 
seemed a thing of the past and everyone on board appeared to be 
enjoying life with zest. 
Although we were nearing the equator and the temperature was 
quite high, the cool breeze kept up, aided at night by electric 
fans, so we did not suffer. 
The Iowa group held conferences from time to time regarding 
the plan of operations in Fiji. We agreed to divide our party 
during our stay on the island of Vitilevu, some of us staying in 
or near Suva for the land work, but all taking turns at the reef 
work on Makuluva, the little island that the Colonial Government 
had set apart for our use. 
We were now further south than any of us had ever been be- 
fore. The North Star was about to disappear and the Southern 
Cross was nightly higher in the heavens and more and more con- 
spicuous. The horizon was daily bedecked with ‘‘tropie clouds,’’ 
and the sunsets were gorgeous beyond description. The clear blue 
of the ocean was flecked with white caps, while the sudden rain 
squalls came, drenched the decks, and were gone again in a few 
minutes. 
On the 31st of May we passed the only vessel seen on the en- 
tire outward-bound voyage. It was the ‘‘Makura,’’ the com- 
panion ship to the ‘‘Niagara,’’ and the one in which we expected 
to go from Fiji to New Zealand on her return voyage from Van- 
couver. A few seabirds were sighted which seemed to indicate 
the proximity of land, although we had sighted none since leav- 
ing Hawaiian waters on the 28th. 
We crossed the equator at 3:45 P.M. and the next morning be- 
