44 A MISSION TO VITI. 



its growing in various groups of the Pacific, and Mr. 

 Pritchard's untiring efforts to preserve the peace of that 

 region. Fans made of this palm are used exclusively 

 by the chiefs, and forbidden to be carried by the com- 

 mon people. Should Fiji ever choose a national em- 

 blem, the claims of this palm to be regarded as such, 

 should not be overlooked. 



Mrs. Waterhouse made me a present of an Orange 

 Cowry, or Bulikula as the natives term it (Cyprcea 

 aurantium, Martyn), the first I had seen there. This 

 shell has hitherto been found exclusively in Fiji, where 

 it is confined to the islands and shores of North-west 

 Viti Levu ; it is worn as an ornament around the 

 neck by natives of rank. Not many years ago, a couple 

 of these cowries would fetch as much as 50 in Eu- 

 rope, but at present a pair without the least flaw, and 

 of the deepest tint the shell is known to assume, may be 

 bought in London for 6. Hugh Cuming, Esq., the 

 possessor of the largest conchological collection ever 

 brought together, is my authority. This statement 

 will doubtless be received with surprise by the Fijian 

 traders, who ask a much higher price on the spot, and 

 still fancy great profits might be realized, in the Euro- 

 pean markets. It should however be remembered, that 

 though the Orange Cowry is extremely local in its geo- 

 graphical range, and will consequently always be a rare 

 shell, specimens have found their way to every public 

 museum and every private cabinet of importance long 

 ere this, and the principal demand having thus been 

 met, the price has necessarily declined. 



The road from Wairiki to Somosomo leads for seve- 



