134 A MISSION TO VITI. 



of pine-apples and cassava-root, and around nearly all 

 the yam, banana, and sweet-potato patches I observed 

 the cotton-trees, which had been planted by order of the 

 King and at Mr. Pritchard's instigation. The village of 

 Koroivau was a complete cotton garden ; the trees were 

 twelve to fourteen feet high, and formed regular ave- 

 nues in the streets. In my rambles in the forest I met 

 with some natives who were clearing pieces of ground for 

 cultivation. They were extremely friendly, and invited 

 me to partake of some wild yams ("Tivoli") which they 

 had just been roasting in the hot ashes. I gladly availed 

 myself of their offer, and found the roots like cultivated 

 yams, and quite as good in taste. Though no smoker 

 myself, I carried a pipe and tobacco, which passed from 

 mouth to mouth, every one having a few puffs and then 

 passing it on to his neighbour; and when I intimated 

 to them that the pipe was theirs, and presented an ad- 

 ditional stick of American tobacco, they were highly 

 pleased, and hoped that I would soon come again to 

 " gather leaves." In the swampy parts of the forest I 

 found a new Aroideous plant, the Viu kana (Cyrto- 

 sperma edulis, Schott) under cultivation. Like the Taro, 

 or Dalo, as it is here termed, which it somewhat re- 

 sembles, its root is edible, and very much used. 



We left Bau on the 2nd of August, early in the morn- 

 ing, our party consisting of Colonel and Mrs. Smythe, Mr. 

 and Miss Pritchard, Mr. Collis and myself, all embarked 

 in two boats belonging to the mission, and proceeding 

 to Rewa by way of the river and the canal, a route, 

 it will be remembered, which Mr. Pritchard and myself 

 took on a former occasion. After two or three days' rain 



