PREFACE. 



In 1877, I accepted an invitation from Sir Arthur 

 Gordon to visit the Islands of Fiji, of which he was 

 then Governor ; and availing myself of the privilege 

 of leave of absence granted to Civil Servants, I left, en 

 route for England, via New South "Wales, Fiji, and 

 San Francisco, after a resident service in Mauritius of 

 16 years. 



Sugar being the staple product of that Island, the 

 introduction of new varieties of sugar-cane and their 

 culture had received my special attention for a number 

 of years ; and, on leaving, the Chamber of Agriculture, 

 with the sanction of Government, commissioned me 

 to select and forward whatever new and suitable 

 specimens of canes I could find in the different 

 islands lying on my route. 



I spent a year in Fiji, and my notes of travel during 

 that period are given in the following pages. 



JOHN HORNE, 



Director of the Botanic Gardens, and of 

 "Woods and Forests, Mauritius. 



November 4th, 1880. 



Q 2019. 



