

THE FIJI ISLANDS. 65 



now only to take with him, as Mr. Home did, a 

 circular letter of introduction written in Fijian to all 

 the chiefs, to find himself a welcome guest at (instead 

 of upon) their hospitable tables. "In each village 

 some one, generally the schoolmaster, ' teacher/ or 

 native clergyman, was found, who could read and 

 explain the letter to the people, who were at all times 

 attentive listeners ." The Sunday schools are well 

 attended, and most of the rising generation of Fijians 

 can do something in the way of reading, writing, and 

 ciphering. In fact, with a few guides and an inter- 

 preter, a little sugar, tea, coffee, and biscuits, mats for 

 sleeping upon, a rug or so, and a mosquito net, the 

 visitor can enjoy himself immensely in the Fiji Islands, 

 as Mr. Home's work shows in almost every page. 



While the cool weather lasts, Europeans in Fiji can 

 wear with comfort clothing adapted to an English 

 summer; "indeed, at this season, the weather is 

 delightful, finer than the best summer weather in 

 England." In the hot weather, it is true, the heat is 

 oppressive, while storms of thunder and heavy rain 

 are more frequent than pleasant. With reference to 

 the rainfall, by the way, which even for a tropical 

 country is very heavy, Mr. Home notes a circumstance 

 of considerable interest. " Previous to and during 

 18612 the low hills around Levuka were thickly 

 wooded. Since that time the woods have been cut 

 down, and the number of days on which rain falls has 

 been reduced from 256, the average for 1861-2, to 

 149, the average for 1865-6 and 1876-7. It would 



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