46 A MISSION TO VITI. 



sent, on the 19th of June, the 'Paul Jones,' a schooner 

 of nine tons, huilt in the islands by Mr. Jones, an Eng- 

 lishman formerly residing at Levuka, and entirely of 

 native woods, Dilo (Calophyllum inophyllum, Linn.) and 

 Vaivai (Serianthes Vitiensis, A. Gray), with masts of Fi- 

 jian Kowrie-pine. The crew were all half-castes, mostly 

 sons of Englishmen who had taken up their residence 

 in Fiji. They could speak English more or less flu- 

 ently, having had some instruction at the different 

 missionary schools. The late Mr. Hunt, one of the 

 most distinguished champions of Christianity in these 

 parts, seemed to have taken considerable interest in 

 their education, and they always spoke in the highest 

 terms of him. It was amusing to hear some of their 

 English. In Fijian, B, N, and G, are combinations of 

 two distinct consonants, sounding like Mb, Nd, and 

 Ng. Joe, our cook, a very good-natured fellow, had the 

 greatest difficulty in steering clear of these letters. In 

 spite of all our pains, he would insist in telling us that 

 the " yams were quite ndone," and that "mbreaJcfast was 

 ready." 



The captain of the ' Paul Jones ' brought a letter 

 from the consul informing me that Colonel Smythe had 

 not yet arrived, and advising me to hasten my depar- 

 ture from Somosomo if I wished to take advantage of an 

 excursion he had arranged to the dominions of Kuru- 

 duadua, a powerful heathen chief, hitherto inaccessible 

 to all missionary influence, and residing on the large 

 island of Viti Levu. My mind was at once made up. In 

 a few hours, all my baggage was packed, and embarked. 



During my stay at Somosomo, many of my things had 



