■ THE YIGTORIAN NATURALIST. 141 



estuaries of the river, bounded on either bank by the mango tree. 

 This IS especially a tree of the tropics. In colder latitudes, carices 

 and other plants hold together vast tracts of sand. Reeds and 

 allied plants, with sphagnum mosses, mat together boggy grounds. 

 But in the topics, the mango is specially fitted to hold together the 

 crumbling shores. Its roots spread widely, and will grow in and 

 under water, and in the net-like interstices there is a hold for soil 

 and other material, and so this endless network offers a substantial 

 obstacle to the approaches of sea and river. 



I paid a visit to Bau. This is a single hill, connected with Viti 

 Levu by a low flat, and is an island only at high water. The house 

 where I was staying was at the top of the hill, and had a window on 

 either side of a two-roomed apartment, looking out pleasantly on the 

 sea. The windows were open, a pleasant breeze was blowing through, 

 when suddenly a vivid flash of green drafted past me. Imagine my 

 astonishment on finding it to be a beautiful parrot, flying through 

 the house from one verandah to the other. This, and a small 

 yellow crested white Cockatoo, from the New Hebrides, were flying 

 about the house and grounds quite tame an<l unmolested. It was a 

 grand fete day at Bau. The Queen presented me with an orange. 

 Such really represents the intelligence of these people. They are on 

 a level witli English school-boys. The good lady had been out in 

 the morning with her maidens fishing, and hospitably sent me a 

 portion for my supper, a compliment I fully appreciated. There was 

 to be a grand meke or dance. Hundreds painted with red ochre 

 and begrimed with black charcoal, most gracefully went through 

 many of their native dances. The men dance alone. A number 

 grouped together play with bamboos. The dancers walk, run, or 

 dance, imitating by movements of the body, the ebb and flow of the 

 waves of the sea, fighting, spearing, clubbing, and other lessons of 

 nature or social life. It is quite astonishing what a bewitching 

 influence the symmetrical and graceful motions of so many hundreds 

 exercise upon the onlookers. No European soldiers, however well- 

 drilled, can be more accurate in time and measure. 



Opposite to Bau is the beautiful island of Yiwa. It is one fairy- 

 land of hill and dale. It is well wooded. The beautiful Tree Orchid, 

 Dendrobium Tokas, Reichenbach, with its yellow clusters, gracefully 

 hangs among Selaginellas and bright green ferns. My time in this 

 beautiful island unfortunately was limited. In a shaded hollow, I 

 took a number of a beautiful Mazarine blue butterfly. The air was 

 fragrant with the odour of aromatic trees. A short time ago it was 

 the home of most abominable cannibalism; now it is the abode of 

 beauty and peace. In its configuration, in its beautiful fern glades, 

 in its sylvan retreats, in its sunshines and shadows, it is surely ant 

 Eden on earth. Near the summit of a gentle slope, I saw a most 



