5 6 THE CORAL LANDS OF THE PACIFIC. 



perhaps, episodes of boyish life at home ? With head erect 



and stately step advances the Hon. , a member 



of the Legislative Assembly. He sees the damaged abomina- 

 tion, hesitates, and then, taking a few steps, gives it one 

 gigantic kick. He never went to church that morning, and 

 complained for weeks after of very sore toes. A second 

 victim immediately followed the speedy retreat of number 

 one; and after practically laming two of the best-known 

 Levukans, the wretched hat was pitched into the sea a fate 

 which I devoutly wish would be that of all its species. 



On this day Fiji demonstrated her civilisation to the world. 

 The ' Jamais /' of M. Eouher was as nothing to the unalterable 

 decision of sensible Levukans to never, never tolerate a black 

 silk hat. 



A leading London financier said to me the other day : ' Ah ! 

 Fiji yes, Fiji ; well, it has hardly got out of its laughing- 

 stock days yet, has it? Cold missionary on the side-board, 

 and cooked Christians always ready day or night.' The joke is 

 an old one, and 'Polynesians' can now afford to laugh 

 at it. 



There is direct monthly communication by steam between 

 Levuka and Auckland, New Zealand, Sydney and Melbourne ; 

 the English mail arriving in San Francisco and Auckland, and 

 returning vid Sydney and Suez. Two inter-insular steamers con- 

 nect the islands of the group to leeward and windward, while 

 there is talk of a monthly steamer to the neighbouring kingdom 

 of Tonga, and another is proposed to be shortly put on the 

 station between the commercial capital of Polynesia, Levuka 

 and Samoa. There are regular steamers between the Rewa 

 river in Viti Levu and Suva, the recently declared seat 

 of Government. There are moreover regular lines of sailing- 

 vessels to and from Auckland, New Zealand, and Sydney, 



