12 



the native stipendiary magistrates meet once a year in 

 the great council (Bose vaka Turaga), and discuss the 

 " Dative affairs of the nation." At this meeting each 

 Eok<> grives a detailed report of the province of which 

 he has charge. These reports are severely criticised 

 by the other chiefs, and suggestions are offered as 

 to such executive and legislative measures as the 

 assembly would like to see adopted hy the Govern- 

 ment. The resolutions of the great council are mere 

 recommendations which the Government of the colony 

 is free to accept or reject. 



On arriving at a village I was conducted to the 

 Bure ni Sa, or strangers' house, one of which is to he 

 found in every village, or to the house of the chief. 

 The Governor's letter was read, and the Turaga ni 

 Koro in council appointed the guide and the men who 

 were to he the carriers to the next town or district, 

 and without such not a man would lift a pack- 

 age. The state of the native roads, the order and 

 cleanliness of a town were soon seen to he sure 

 indications as to the character of a Turaga ni Koro. 

 Whatever might he the decisions of the village 

 council, it was his particular duty to have them 

 carried out. 



koro ni Saca was the next halting place, where I 

 slaved two days, making excursions into the forests, 

 collecting plants and examining the country. At 

 this town a large stream enters the sea, and 

 boats drawing 8 feet of water can go up for 3 or 

 1 miles into the interior. In the locality there are 

 aboul <') square miles of land suitable for growing 

 Bugar cane, lying on the hanks of the river and on 

 the sides of low hills. The mountains are well 

 wooded with valuable kinds of timber trees. The soil 



