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variety of mosses are most commonly found on the top 

 of the mountains. Astelia, calophyllum burmannii 

 cinnamomum pedatinervuin, gnetuni genom, podo- 

 carpus cupressina kau tabua, podocarpus vitiensis 

 dakua-salusalu, dacrydium elatum leweninini, dam- 

 mara vitiensis dakua, kentia exorrhiza niu soria or 

 tiiu scar, and some other palms may be found thriving 

 on the sides of the mountains, from the sea-shore up 

 to elevations of 2,500 or 3,000 feet, i.e., when in 

 situations sheltered from prevailing winds and in soil 

 favourable for their development. 



The windward side of the islands, where most rain 

 falls, is one dense tangled mass of vegetation, through 

 which it is impossible to force a passage without great 

 exertion. This is especially so on land that has at one 

 time been cultivated, but abandoned for some years. 

 Land thus abandoned is at once overgrown by reeds 

 gasau, wild sugar canes vicos, sponia orientalis, and 

 sponia velutina, homalanthus populifolia, tree ferns, 

 large growing climbers, &c, all contending for the 

 mastery. This goes on until perhaps the growth is 

 checked by fire, which burns up the grass, the leaves of 

 the sugar cane, &c. The hardier kinds of exogens 

 that have been least injured by the fire, start into new 

 and vigorous growth and ultimately take possession 

 and give shelter to hardy ferns, zingiber zerurnbet, 

 and climbing freycinetias. The tender ferns follow, 

 accompanied by shade loving alpinias, heliconias, 

 pipers, palms, cyrtandras, &c. Along with these, 

 young plants of podocarps, conifers, calophyllums, 

 &c, make their appearance. After a few years, — for 

 growth is rapid in the moist warm climate of Fiji, — the 

 woods begin to assume the appearance of a virgin 

 forest, with a dense undergrowth of ferns and shrubs. 



