52 



valley, and water scenery at Warei was very fine 

 indeed. The inhabitants of this village were the 

 poorest I had seen in the group, and their houses were 

 in a very dilapidated condition. The burying ground, 

 as at many other plaees in Fiji, was close to the village. 

 In many instances the Fijians attend most carefully 

 to the graves of their departed friends. These resting 

 places are commonly parterres planted with choice and 

 gay flowering plants, ornamental trees and shrubs. 

 Not unfrequently the graves are covered with mosaic- 

 like patterns made of variously coloured pieces of coral 

 and pebbles, gathered one by one at immense labour, 

 and during, perhaps, many years. From Warei I went 

 to Koro Levu, a village on the south-east coast of the 

 island. The route for some distance was through the 

 mountains and then along the coast, the path being 

 well made, but in many places steep. The soil in the 

 mountain district was of good quality and capable of 

 growing coffee. Near the coast it was rich, and sugar 

 cane, cacoa, and Liberian coffee would thrive well 

 upon it. There is ample space on the coast for an 

 indefinite extension of the cocoa-nut tree. 



At Koro Levu the Commissioner of Lands was 

 holding his court, — conducting a patient and pains- 

 taking inquiry into the claims of settlers to lands in 

 the district purchased from the natives previous to the 

 ceding of the islands to Great Britain, — " Crown 

 grants " or title deeds being given in all cases where 

 satisfactory proof could be shown. 



The locks noticed were principally aqueous and ag- 

 glomerate, but some of a basaltic character w r ere also 

 Been. There now being several large estuaries to 

 cross bei ween Koro Levu and Wai-Nunu, I was advised 

 to tike ;i canoe, and on arriving at the latter place I 



