70 THE CORAL LANDS OF THE PACIFIC. 



months, even if a premium is demanded in addition, is better 

 than experimenting with the land of which he knows nothing, 

 and products of which he knows less. 



Nearly every planter that I know in Fiji has had to pay 

 very heavily for his experience;, and it is not likely that this 

 hard-earned knowledge should be communicated gratuitously ; 

 still, good terms are to be made even by those possessed of 

 small capital, coupled, of course, with willingness to work. 

 Before concluding this chapter, I will just quote from a 

 letter I received from one of the senior members of the 

 Legislative Council of Fiji, who is at present residing at 

 Sydney. 



* Fiji is,' he says, ' in a sounder position than any of the 

 colonies ; land has increased in value greatly since you were 

 there, capital is wanted to develop the sugar and coffee indus- 

 tries ; and with capital and brains, I believe that there is a 

 better prospect for a man in Fiji than any other place I 

 know, and I speak from a thorough knowledge of the 

 country. Labour is arriving in abundance from Polynesia 

 . . . Sugar and coffee are going to be the great industries of 

 Fiji.' 



