FIJI-NEW ZEALAND EXPEDITION 339 
where we could bask in the sunshine or engage in deck sports. 
Stoner appeared at the table but seemed to have little appetite. 
All the others of our party were well and happy. Wylie welcomed 
the long rest of the homeward voyage. He surprised me the other 
day by presenting me with a very handsome Fiji war-club. He 
knew that I wanted one, but as I did not go into the interior of 
Vitilevu, I had no opportunity of securing one as the others had, 
and I was secretly quite envious. Wylie secured the one he gave 
me, at Wellington, from the estate of the famous Bullar family, 
in whose possession it had been for several generations; it was 
undoubtedly genuine and not made for the tourist trade. 
The Tahiti was a great deal smaller than the Niagara but more 
comfortable and ‘‘homey.’’ It was not at all crowded and had 
a comfortable lounge and smoking room besides a reading room 
with an electric stove which was not needed after the first few 
days. We were quite prepared to appreciate warm weather again 
after the chill of New Zealand. 
The four sphenodons were quite contented in their cage on the 
lower deck in charge of the butcher, who said he would get them 
through in good shape if possible. He had had considerable ex- 
perience in caring for animals on long voyages, and remarked that 
he once had a couple of lions on a trip. The animals seemed more 
lively in their new surroundings than I had seen them before. 
They were to have their water tank filled with fresh water every 
day and to have fresh beef twice a week. 
Mr. and Mrs. Welch, our companions on the Niagara and the 
trip to Bau in Fiji, sat at our table. They had been to Australia 
since we had seen them last and seemed glad to be with Americans 
again. 
We lost a Sunday on our voyage to Fiji, but we made up for 
it by having two Wednesdays on our return voyage on the Tahiti. 
Wednesday No. 2, came on August 16. We were sleeping well and 
all were having a most welcome rest. It was rapidly getting warm- 
er as we went north toward tropical seas. We met our skipper 
Captain Altwell, who said that he had had instructions to take 
eare of our party and would do all in his power to make us com- 
fortable. The sphenodons were doing finely and seemed to be 
brighter colored, perhaps owing to more ample bathing facilities. 
That day was the longest in my life, for we passed forty-eight 
hours under one date on account of traversing the 180th degree 
of longitude, eastward bound. 
