MBAU AND VITLLEVU. 1^9 



At six A.M. nest clay, after a welcome bathe in the river, 

 A¥e set off on our return to the ship. The river presented a 

 .lively scene, being full of natives, generally wading up or 

 down along the banks, carrying loads upon their heads, or 

 coming towards us to offer things for sale. The greater 

 part of the men that we saw had their clubs with tliem. 

 A fair wind carrying us down the stream rapidly we had 

 httle opportunity for sport. Meade killed a few water- 

 fowl, and I brought down a long-tailed parrot, with brilliant 

 plumage. We reached the mouth of the river at half-past 

 one P.M., with oars and sails, and got on board the ship two 

 hours afterwards, which was waiting for us with steam up, 

 ready for departure, by which we unfortunately lost the 

 opportunity of a visit to Mbau.^ We further paid the penalty 

 of our expedition by missing the opportunity of seeing the 

 monarch of the country, who, with his portly wife, had paid 

 a visit to the Commodore during our absence. He was 

 described to us as being a finer-looking man than most 

 Fijians, as having some beard, and wearing a white shirt and 



' If instead of following tlie Wai-levu, or Rewa river, up its cir- 

 cuitous course to nearly its junction witlL the Wai-manu and then 

 descending upon Rewa by another branch, the Wai-ni-Mbokasi, we 

 had taken the Kele Musu Canal, about four miles from the Wai-ni-ki 

 mouth, communicating in a direct line with the Wai-ni-Mbokasi, we 

 should have materially shortened our course. This canal is figured 

 in the map of the river Rewa and its tributaries attached to Mr. 

 Macdonald's very interesting paper in vol. sxvii. of the ' Journal ' of 

 R. G. S., article XIII. p. 232. According to Dr. Seeman the canal is 

 two miles in length and sixty feet wide, and navigable for large canoes. 

 Nothing appears to be known as to the time when, or any special 

 purpose for which, it was made. 



