NAVUA AND ITS BURES. 109 



Navua is at present a collection of about forty houses, 

 and built on the left bank of the river of the same 

 name, and at the foot of a hill on which there is a pri- 

 vate bure ni sa of the chief, enjoying a fine view of the 

 flat land around, the river winding in bold curves, 

 and high mountains in the distance. Two creeks inter- 

 sect the town, over which isolated trunks of trees are 

 thrown, the nearest approach to bridges I have seen in 

 the country. In the two squares are several venerable 

 Tahitian chestnut-trees (Inocarpus edulis, Forst.) densely 

 covered with parasites (Loranthus), about a dozen spe- 

 cies of epiphytical ferns, one of them not larger than 

 a moss, wax-flowers, orchids, mosses, and lichens. There 

 was no heathen temple (bure Jcalou\ but a fine one 

 might be seen from the top of the hill, about a mile off. 

 I noticed three lures ni sa, strangers' houses, or sleep- 

 ing bures. At least two of the latter are invariably 

 found at every Fijian town or village. They may be 

 compared to our clubs; and those frequented by the 

 ruling chiefs do not seem visited much by the lower 

 class of people. That at Bau, already mentioned, was 

 the largest I saw. All along the sides are sleeping- 

 places, covered with fine mats, and large enough for two 

 men to sleep ; and between each there is a fireplace, 

 and stages to put the legs on. Overhead a good supply 

 of firewood is stowed. The centre of the building is 

 covered with loose grass, generally Co dina (Paspalum 

 scrobiculatum, Linn.). There are no windows, only low 

 doors, which may be, and are always closed towards 

 evening, by means of thick mats, in order to keep 

 the mosquitoes out. A large kava-bowl. and bamboo 



