A SYLVAN SCENE. 27 



They were always a long distance ahead, waiting for 

 our coming up, and enjoying themselves in opening 

 cocoa-nuts, and smoking cigarettes, made with dry ba- 

 nana leaves instead of paper. 



The ascent was rather steep, and Mr. Storck had the 

 misfortune to hurt himself rather seriously from falling 

 down a considerable precipice, just when in the act of 

 gathering some botanical specimens. The road was very 

 bad, the forest being so thick that no glimpse of the 

 sun could fall upon a soil saturated with excessive mois- 

 ture. Large trees and abundant underwood of small 

 palms and tree-ferns produced a solemn gloom, and 

 made us long for a look at the sky. Wild pigeons of 

 a brown colour, and in very good condition for eating, 

 there abounded, and a number were brought down by 







our guns. As we were pushing on, collecting all that 

 came in our way, and now jumping over rivulets, now 

 climbing over rocks, we suddenly arrived at an open 

 space, exhibiting a beautiful view of the whole Straits 

 of Somosomo. The eye passing over a dense belt of 

 forest, espied the islands of Rabi, Kioa, and Vanua Levu, 

 the reefs showing very plainly by the surf breaking upon 

 them, whitish fleeting clouds occasionally passing be- 

 tween us and this fine panorama. 



The women had kindled a fire, and thought it a good 

 place to take refreshment. The Queen was seated on 

 the top of a rock, the maids of honour grouped 

 around her. It was a pretty sight. The dark beauties, 

 the really artistic effect of their ornamental leaves 

 and flowers, the easy grace of their movements, made 

 them look like so many nymphs that one reads of in 



