138 A -MISSION TO VITI. 



orbitant in their charges as to render it imperative to 

 look for cheaper provision markets. Fiji had answered 

 their purpose much better, and they predicted the arrival 

 of a regular whaling fleet as soon as the great facilities 

 here offered should have become more generally known 

 amongst the trade. Having their families with them, 

 they gave us several pressing invitations to come on 

 board, which the Consul, myself, and all the mission- 

 aries gladly accepted. These vessels enjoyed the repu- 

 tation of being patterns of what whaleships should be ; 

 and I must record my surprise at the scrupulous neat- 

 ness, cleanliness, and even elegance prevailing. The 

 Captain's cabins were fitted up and kept better than I 

 have ever seen them in any vessel. 



When our friends heard that we were anxious to 

 ascend Buke Levu, the great mountain situated at the 

 western extremity of Kadavu, they offered us one of 

 their whale-boats for that purpose; and one of their 

 mates, a skilful steerer, volunteered to pilot us to the 

 foot of the mountain. Mr. Frit chard and I left Tavuki 

 13th of August early in the morning. It was quite 

 fine when we started, but after an hour's pull, a gale 

 sprang up, and after being nearly swamped in going 

 through a narrow passage of a reef, where the water 

 was breaking, we were compelled to postpone our at- 

 tempt to a more favourable time, and land at Yawe, a 

 town famous in Fiji for its very large specimens of 

 pottery, made without a wheel, and taking as our 

 crockery does, its name from the place of manufacture. 

 We hoped that it might clear up during the night, to 

 allow us to proceed in the morning ; but the next day 



