VANUA.LAVA. 235 



him on August 20, anticipated our arrival by a whole week. 

 The bishop, who was on board of her, immediately paid a 

 visit to tlie ' Cura9oa,' accompanied by Commander Tilley, 

 E.N., who had obtained four years' leave to occupy himself 

 with the hydrography of these and other islands of these 

 seas. A tliick fog so obscured the Hght as to prevent our 

 having a distinct view of tlie mountains by which this fine 

 port is environed. After our arrival we met with an acci- 

 dent which we regarded as a positive disaster for our 

 stomachs, and all the moi'e so, as proceeding north we were 

 every day getting nearer the focus of heat, — the ice- 

 machine which had made us so happy came to grief 

 in the steward's hands, thus putting an end to the cool 

 beverages to which we had been so much accustomed. 



Several canoes filled with men only came paddling around 

 the ship. They were completely naked, without a maro, 

 without even the slightest rag of covering, so that we 

 could very distinctly perceive that they did not practise 

 circumcision. They were entirely unarmed, and appeared 

 quiet and inoffensive. They made the sailors understand 

 that they were verj^ desirous to have empty bottles, which 

 they seemed to prize beyond anything. Their canoes are 

 short and heavy, wide and deep, larger than those of the 

 New Hebrides, and like the latter fitted with an outrigger. 



The day after our arrival, early in the morning, I went, 

 accompanied by Mr. Veitch and Brazier on board the 

 ' Southern Cross,' to take up Bishop Patteson, who, with his 

 usual kindness, liad been good enough to offer to pilot us 



