CLIMATE, SOIL, AND FLOKA. 277 



summit of Buke Levu. The re-establishment of the 

 woods on ground at one time under cultivation can 

 scarcely be adduced as a proof that the population has 

 seriously diminished, but rather that the Fijians have 

 for ages followed the same system of agriculture as they 

 do at present, that of constantly selecting new spots for 

 their crops when the old ones, which their ignorance 

 prevents them from fertilizing by the introduction of 

 manure, become exhausted. The displaced vegetation 

 quickly resumes its former sway, until perhaps, after the 

 lapse of years, it has once more to make room for cul- 

 tivated plants. 



The aspect of the weather side of the islands is essen- 

 tially different from that of the lee side. The former 

 teems with a dense mass of vegetation, huge trees, in- -/ 

 numerable creepers, and epiphytical plants. Hardly 

 ever a break occurs in the green mantle spread over hill 

 and dale, except where effected by artificial means, r/ 

 Kain and moisture are plentiful, adding ever fresh s* 

 vigour to, and keeping up the exuberant growth of, 

 trees, shrubs, and herbs. Far different is the aspect of 

 the lee side. Instead of the dense jungle, interlaced 

 with creepers and loaded with epiphytes, a fine grassy 

 country, here and there dotted with screw-pines, pre- 

 sents itself. The northern shores of Viti Levu and 

 Vanua Levu bear this character in an eminent degree, and 

 their very aspect is proof that rain falls in only limited 

 quantity ; the high ridge of mountains, which form, as it 

 were, the backbone of the two largest islands, intercept- 

 ing many showers, but sending down perpetual streams to 

 fertilize the low lands of the coast. The lee side would 



