7AVATJ. 97 



presents wlien tliey are about to be married, and Avliich 

 they keep, it is said, without ever malting use of them ; 

 but the one I have seems to have done good service ; it is 

 made of a hard dark wood, and covered over with a greyish 

 paint or enameL 



The soil of Vavau is of a dull red, and of so friable a 

 nature that it crumbles in the hand like the ashes of 

 Pompeii. Lava is to be found in many places, and a white 

 stone riddled with holes, which some refer to the coral, 

 but which appears to me to be rather a species of lava, like 

 that formerly thrown out by Vesuvius, and which is still 

 found in the Bay of Naples. This stone is very hard, 

 heavy, and susceptible of a very fine polish. The igneous 

 origin of these countries is, moreover, proved by the little 

 island of Latte, situated some miles to the west, where 

 there is now an active volcano, which I was sony not to 

 have visited. There exist on the coast of Vavau some 

 curious caves which were visited by my friend, Lieutenant 

 Meade, from whose MS. I have borrowed the following 

 description : — ' The first cave was well worth inspection ; 

 the mouth was broad enough to admit our two boats easily, 

 and there was sufficient water in nearly every part to float 

 a frigate. The stalactites and columns under the high- 

 domed roof resemble gothic arches. The bright sunlight 

 streaming through the narrow gateway of tlie cave, through 

 the singularly clear water, and reflected up from the 

 sparkling stones, and coral at the bottom full five fathoms 

 deep, shed a beautiful series of lights and tints, shades of 



H 



