CHAPTER I. 



Description of Tour throughout the different 

 Islands in the Group, &c. 



My route through the Fiji islands is traced in red 

 on the annexed map, and I now propose giving a 

 description of it and of the country through which I 

 passed. 



Before starting, His Excellency the Governor of 

 Fiji, the Honourable Sir A. H. Gordon, C.B., 

 G.C.M.G., furnished me with a circular letter of 

 introduction written in Fijian to all the chiefs, in- 

 forming them who I was, the object and nature of my 

 visit, and requesting them to give me all the assistance 

 in their power in providing me with carriers, guides, 

 &c. This they most cheerfully and Avillingly attended 

 to, and I found no difficulty in moving about. In 

 each village some one, generally the schoolmaster, 

 " teacher " or native clergyman, was found who could 

 read and explain the letter to the people, who were at 

 all times attentive listeners. This was a surprise to 

 me ; but I found in the course of my journeys, that 

 many of the grown-up people had been taught by the 

 Wesleyan missionaries ; that a church and a school, — 

 the latter of which in small villages was a place of 

 worship as well on Sundays as on other special 

 occasions, — were established in every native town — 

 (Koro). These were well attended, as most of the 

 rising generation could read, write, and cipher to 



some extent. In most native houses worship was 



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