162 A MISSION TO VITI. 



great supernatural influence ; but if not eaten by ani- 

 mals, the food is often stolen by the more enlightened 

 class of their own countrymen, and even some foreigners 

 occasionally do not disdain to help themselves freely. 



The ascent of Voma was steep, and made us very 

 warm indeed. Our native attendants found it equally 

 so, though not encumbered with any clothing like our- 

 selves ; and to cool themselves they thought it no addi- 

 tional exertion to climb up a tree and catch the breeze. 

 In former times, there had been a town some consider- 

 able distance up the mountain, traces of which were 

 still visible ; and hence, though there was a thick wood, 

 the actual virgin forest did not commence until we had 

 attained the height of about 2500 feet above the sea. 

 When entering that region we found the trees altogether 

 different from those of the lowlands, and densely covered 

 with mosses, lichens, and deep orange-coloured orchids 

 (DendroUum Mohlianum, Echb. fil.). Some of the ferns 

 were of antediluvian dimensions. A species of Cinna- 

 momum, producing a superior kind of cassia-bark, and 

 used by the natives for scenting cocoa-nut oil, and as a 

 powerful sudorific, was met with in considerable quan- 

 tities. The absence of all large animals, and the limited 

 number of birds, impart an air of solemnity to these 

 upland forests. Not a sound is heard : all is silence 

 repose ! 



We had to pass over some awkward places, and to 

 climb several almost perpendicular rocks, rendered slip- 

 pery by water trickling down. However, at half-past ten, 

 two hours and a half after starting, Colonel Smythe, Mr. 

 Pritchard and myself, reached the summit : Danford 



