104 IOWA STUDIES IN NATURAL HISTORY 
siderably hampered in our work by rainy weather. But although 
the annual rainfail is sometimes as much as 172 inches, we saw 
little of it; however, it looked as if it rained in the interior nearly 
every day. When our men were on the trip with Mr. Fell we 
expected them to report drenching rains almost daily, but they 
said that they encountered very little, although dense fogs and 
mists often interfered with their view, especially from the moun- 
tain tops to which they occasionally climbed. 
Mr. Wright, the Government Chemist, had been exceedingly 
helpful during our whole stay. He had given a convenient room 
in his laboratory to Professor Wylie where the precious botanical 
specimens could be handled and prevented from spoiling; had also 
aided Dr. Stoner very materially in his entomological work, and 
had given freely of his time and extensive knowledge to any of 
our party that could be helped thereby. He is a Cambridge grad- 
uate, a thoroughly competent scientist in his own specialty, and 
widely acquainted in other fields of knowledge. 
On the morning of July 38rd we made farewell calls on our 
colonial friends and wrote notes to others expressing our appre- 
ciation of many courtesies. Colonial Secretary Fell had more than 
made good his promises of official and personal aid to the ex- 
pedition. It was through him that we occupied the delightful 
little island of Makuluva, where we had unsurpassed facilities for 
working in comfort without being interrupted by the numerous 
visitors who often, although unwittingly, are a great hindrance to 
visiting strangers with a serious objective and limited time. Mr. 
Fell also made it possible for three of our party to take the jour- 
ney with him into the interior of Vitilevu, a trip of surpassing 
interest and one that will be remembered with delight by those 
who were so fortunate as to be included. 
There were several other men, mostly in the Colonial service, 
who greatly aided us, whose services will be noted in the chapters 
written by Professor Wylie, Professor Thomas, and Dr Stoner. 
One thing that I very much desired to take home with us was a 
Fiji flag, but I was unable to do so. It seems that these colonial 
flags are used only by colonial officials and in connection with 
governmental buildings. Private citizens are apparently not al- 
lowed to possess them nor are they for sale at the various shops. 
Hence we were compelled to depart without securing the official 
colonial flag of Fiji. 
Our steamer, the Makura, came in at about ten o’clock in the 
