OUR CANOE CAPSIZED. 207 



where salt is abundant, had presented the people, whom 

 he had cleared out of almost everything, with a supply 

 of that useful article, for they assured us they had no 

 canoes left to get across the river, and should have to 

 commence that very day to build new ones. On push- 

 ing down the river, we overtook the flotilla, heavily 

 laden with goods of all descriptions, and had no diffi- 

 culty in getting the loan of a canoe to Navua. We had 

 little reason to congratulate ourselves on this change. 

 At the next rapid we could not bale faster than the 

 water came in at the stern ; the outrigger lost its balance, 

 and in another moment the canoe was capsized.* Soro- 

 mato, my faithful friend, by a desperate dash saved a 

 bundle of my clothes, including cloak, and succeeded in 

 getting them on shore dry. Having been up to my neck 

 in water, I felt very thankful to Soromato. The natives 

 kindled a fire on a gravelly spot, and two of the boys 

 had to chew kava, which, in the absence of a proper 

 bowl and straining fibres, was made in large leaves and 

 squeezed through ferns. 



The canoe being baled out, and put again in proper 

 order, we continued our voyage, and without any further 

 mishap reached Navua. Kuruduadua met us close to 

 the town ; he had been all day busy in the field, and 

 said he had a great number of people staying with him 

 to assist in his agricultural labours. When we stepped 

 on shore, supper was just being presented to them. It 

 was an immense heap of provisions, and though there 

 were probably two hundred visitors, there must have 

 been ample for all. 



* In our Plate representing Koro Basabasaga will be seen a good speci- 

 men of a Fijian river-canoe with its outrigger. 



