418 Mr Gardiner, The Coral Reefs of [Mar. 7, 



I am also much indebted to Capt. Field and the officers of 

 H.M.S. Penguin for their great courtesy and assistance at all times. 



Returning to Fiji in the middle of August, I left in the 

 Penguin at the end of the month for Rotuma, where I remained 

 until the middle of December. Here I was much beholden to 

 Mr Leefe, the Resident Commissioner, for his assistance and 

 especially for the loan of his boat and crew. 



Coming back to Fiji the second time, after a tour round 

 Ovalau, I proceeded along the north coast of Viti Levu to 

 Nathilau. Crossing from there to the Rewa river, I obtained 

 two canoes and in five days reached Suva, where I remained for 

 some days, making excursions to the Navua river, the Mbenga 

 barrier reef and into the neighbouring country. I then spent 

 a fortnight in Wakaya on the kind invitation of Capt. Langdale, 

 late R.N. Having received from the Hon. J. Stewart, Colonial 

 Secretary, an offer of a passage round the Lau Group in the 

 government S.S. Clyde, I gladly accepted, visiting the Exploring 

 Group, Lakemba, Fulanga, Ongea, Namuka and Kambara. On 

 returning I went to Taviuni, where I spent a fortnight, riding 

 or walking round the greater part of that island. Ratu Lala, 

 the native chief, then sent me in his whaleboat to Rambi and 

 on to Lambasa, which we reached in four days. I next crossed 

 to Nateva Bay, down which I proceeded, partially by canoe, and 

 reached Savu-Savu Bay on the third day, whence I proceeded to 

 Levuka, where I obtained ship to Sydney. 



In Fiji I was greatly assisted by Capt. W. W. Wilson, Harbour 

 Master of Levuka, who took the Clyde round the Lau Group 

 especially to help and direct me. As Capt. Wilson probably 

 knows more than any man living about the reefs and anchorages 

 in the Central Pacific, and most generously placed freely at my 

 disposal his journals and the mass of information he has collected, 

 I cannot sufficiently express my indebtedness to him. I wish 

 also to express my thanks to the Hon. W. L. Allardyce, Native 

 Commissioner ; Mr Berry, Commissioner of Works ; Mr Turner, 

 Chief of Customs, Levuka ; Capt. Langdale, late R.N. ; the late 

 Capt. Puttnam ; Ratu Lala ; Mr C. Thomas ; Mr W. Reay ; Mr W. 

 Chalmers and many others for their hospitality and aid. 



In England I am under great obligations to Prof. Newton, 

 Mr Adam Sedgwick, Mr W. Bateson, Mr A. C. Seward and 

 especially to Prof. Hickson, for their encouragement and counsel. 

 In particular I must thank Mr J. J. Lister for much valuable 

 criticism and advice. 





