SUCCESS OF AN EXPERIMENTAL PLANTATION. 55 



sul, had succeeded in raising New Orleans cotton on his 

 estate, in the island of Wakaya, twelve pods of which 

 weighed an ounce ; whilst the seeds distributed by me 

 amongst various people had evidently not fallen on 

 barren soil. Of course, my plantation could only be a 

 small one, but nevertheless it proved so far beneficial 

 that it convinced those white settlers who had lately 

 repaired to the group what quick returns cotton would 

 yield, and some of them resolutely set about establish- 

 ing plantations. The mail brought the news that some 

 of them had as many as fifteen acres planted. Mr. 

 Storck, my assistant, who went from Sydney with me 

 to Fijis, made up his mind to remain behind when I 

 came away, in order to devote his energies to cotton- 

 growing. Mr. Pritchard supplying him with land, he 

 commenced a plantation at Nukumoto, on the island 

 of Viti Leva; and if the experiment should prove re- 

 munerative, more land will speedily be brought under 

 cultivation. 



The fact that cotton will grow, and will grow well> 

 being established, the success of this and similar attempts 

 will chiefly depend upon the supply of manual labour. 

 Those best acquainted with the condition of the group, 

 and the character of its people, confidently look forward 

 to a steady supply of it. In Rewa, Ovalau, and other dis- 

 tricts longest frequented by whites, the natives go round 

 asking for employment. This is quite an innovation, 

 and shows that the Fijian is becoming gradually accus- 

 tomed to labour for fixed wages ; and, when the chiefs 

 shall have either voluntarily relinquished or been com- 

 pelled to give up their claim to all the property ac- 



