A KITE. THE 'PAUL JONES.' 45 



ral miles along a fine sandy beach, underneath a bower 

 of stately trees, and then branches off inland. I passed 

 magnificent groves of Tahitian chestnuts (Inocarpus 

 edulis, Forst), growing on the banks of rivulets and 

 diffusing a delightful shade and coolness, whilst their 

 grooved trunk and knobby root, always rising above the 

 ground, are conspicuous objects. Although it was now 

 the dry season, nevertheless I was completely drenched 

 by several showers. Indeed there were few fine days 

 during the whole time I was staying in Taviuni, and I 

 may as well add that 1860 was as unusually wet in 

 Fiji as that year proved in Europe and other countries. 

 The land between Wairiki and Somosomo does not 

 appear to be very rich, the soil being rather stony ; the 

 extreme luxuriance of the vegetation must therefore 

 principally be ascribed to the great quantity of rain 

 that falls almost throughout the year. 



One day, Messrs. Storck and Coxon made a large kite, 

 to the great amusement and entertainment of the Fi- 

 jians, who, chief and all, turned out to see it. They 

 called it a " manumanu " (bird), and had never beheld 

 such a thing before ; our Rotuma men, however, said 

 they knew it, and in their island often made it of 

 Ivi (Inocarpus) leaves. Great was the joy when the 

 "postilions" reached their destination, and, as there was 

 a fine breeze, the trick was always successful. So much 

 were they gratified that they came for several days in 

 succession to beg that the kite might be brought out, 

 till at last the toy got such a bore that the makers were 

 obliged to destroy it. 



In accordance with my request, Mr. Consul Pritchard 



