WAIRIKI. 43 



out to me as having been bought in this way to be- 

 come housekeepers of European settlers, and, as their 

 new lords and masters clothed, fed, and treated them 

 better than their Fijian, they had cheerfully stayed with 

 them. Mr. Pritchard's presence has in a great measure 

 put a stop to these and to several other iniquities, or at 

 all events prevented their being carried on in open day- 

 light; but until the home government shall think fit 

 to lighten the consul's duties, by placing a fast-sailing 

 schooner at his disposal, and allow him some abler as- 

 sistance than he has hitherto obtained from his clerks, 

 similar shortcomings must be expected. 



On the 12th of June I went for a few days to Wairiki. 

 The premises occupied by the mission of that place are 

 very commodious ; there are two large dwelling-houses, 

 built about two hundred yards apart, one occupied by Mr. 

 Waterhouse, the other by Mr. Carey. On the second 

 day of my stay there, those two gentlemen returned 

 from Bau, bringing a message from Mr. Pritchard, the 

 British consul, to the effect that Colonel S my the had 

 as yet not arrived, and that a little schooner should be 

 sent for me, in case I did not reach Ovalau by the 12th 

 instant. Mr. Carey showed me his collection of native 

 curiosities, including a fine set of clubs, spears, bows, 

 and arrows. I also saw here for the first time a fan 

 made of the leaf of a beautiful palm, a tree which had 

 proved quite new to science, and which in honour of 

 Mr. Pritchard, and as a grateful acknowledgment of 

 the invaluable assistance he rendered to me, the name 

 of PritcJiardia pacifica has been given by Mr. Wend- 

 land and myself, the specific name being justified by 



