APPENDIX. 425 



Besides the British Consul, there is a Consul for the United 

 States of America residing in Fiji. 



The principal articles of produce are cocoa-nut oil, tortoise- 

 shell, pearl-shell, and arrowroot. Formerly considerable quan- 

 tities of sandal-wood and beche-de-mer were carried to China, 

 but this trade has now nearly ceased. The staple article of 

 produce is cocoa-nut oil, of which about 200 tons are annually 

 exported. 



The sugar-cane and coffee-tree both grow well, and may in 

 time contribute to the exports from Fiji. [Dr. Brower and Mr. 

 Whippy, Americans, have, according to recent intelligence, set 

 up a sugar-cane crushing-machine and coppers. B. $.] 



The climate of Fiji is not unhealthy ; fevers are almost un- 

 known. The most fatal disease to Europeans is dysentery. The 

 mean temperature of the whole year is probably about 80. 

 Much rain falls, especially during the summer months of Ja- 

 nuary, February, and March. At this season thunder-storms 

 are frequent. Hurricanes scarcely ever occur except in these 

 months, and frequently several years in succession pass without 

 any. During the remainder of the year easterly winds prevail. 

 Of the meteorology of Fiji more precise information will soon be 

 obtained, as I brought out with me from the Meteorological De- 

 partment of the Board of Trade a complete set of instruments. 



The three principal reasons stated in my instructions as hav- 

 ing been urged for accepting the sovereignty of the Fiji islands 

 are 



1st. That they may prove a useful station for any mail steam- 

 ers running between Panama and Sydney. 

 2nd. That they may afford a supply of cotton. 

 3rd. And, in close connection with the first reason, that 

 their possession is important to the national power and 

 security in the Pacific. 



On the first head I beg to refer to the accompanying chart of 

 the Pacific Ocean, on which I have traced the great circle lines 

 joining Sydney, Panama, and Fiji, or, in other words, the lines 

 Of shortest distance on the globe between these places. The line 

 from Sydney to Panama, it will be seen, crosses the northern 

 island of New Zealand almost in the latitude of Auckland, and 



