214 A MISSION TO VITI. 



moments like these. We were determined not to let 

 our explorations come to a sudden stop for want of 

 something to drink. Mr. Pritchard left me the option 

 between procuring fire or water ; to guard against lame 

 excuses on the part of the natives, it being thought ne- 

 cessary that one of us should go with them in search of 

 a spring. Knowing what a hard job it was to make fire 

 by rubbing, without pausing, two pieces of wood to- 

 gether, especially in the tropics, I declared in favour of 

 getting the water. My companion, who did not seem to 

 relish descending so many feet and climbing up again, 

 was evidently pleased with his lot. In spite of all the 

 natives were saying about making the wood answer, 

 he resolutely began rubbing away. Great exertions 

 were required ; hat, jacket, vest, and necktie discarded, 

 to obtain greater freedom of action. At last came the 

 reward. The wood began to smoke, sparks appeared, 

 went out again, reappeared, and, brought in contact with 

 a piece of bark-cloth cut off the tail of a boy's dress, 

 soon produced a flame. 



All this time I had been sitting on an old stump, 

 feigning to be quite insensible to certain broad hints 

 about the desirableness of looking after the execution 

 of my part of the contract. When the first flame had 

 appeared I at last bestirred myself, and to the surprise of 

 the fire-kindler, instead of going a long way for water, 

 climbed up a neighbouring tree on which I had noticed 

 an epiphytical plant (Astelia montana, Seem.), the leaves 

 of which , acting as a kind of rain-gauge, were filled 

 with pure water : by merely emptying these the necessary 

 supply was obtained. Ere long, tea was ready, and re- 



