A SYLVAN SCENE. 27 
They were always a long ‘distance ahead, waiting for 
our coming up, and enjoying themselves in opening 
cocoa-nuts, and smoking cigarettes, made with dry ba- 
nana, leaves instead of paper. 
The ascent was rather steep, and Mr. Storck had the 
misfortune to hurt himself rather seriously from falling 
down a considerable precipice, just when in the act of 
gathering some botanical specimens. The road was very 
bad, the forest being so thick that no glimpse of the 
sun could fall upon a soil saturated with excessive mois- 
ture. Large trees and abundant underwood of small 
palms and tree-ferns produced a solemn gloom, and 
made us long for a look at the sky. Wild pigeons of 
a brown colour, and in very good condition for eating, 
there abounded, and a number were brought down by 
our guns. As we were pushing on, collecting all that 
came in our way, and now jumping over rivulets, now 
climbing over rocks, we suddenly arrived at an open 
space, exhibiting a beautiful view of the whole Straits 
of Somosomo. The eye passing over a dense belt of 
forest, espied the islands of Rabi, Kioa, and Vanua Levu, 
the reefs showing very plainly by the surf breaking upon 
them, whitish fleeting clouds occasionally passing be- 
tween us and this fine panorama. 
The women had kindled a fire, and thought it a good 
place to take refreshment. The Queen was seated on 
the top of a rock, the maids of honour grouped 
around her. It was a pretty sight. The dark beauties, 
the really artistic effect of their ornamental leaves 
and flowers, the easy grace of their movements, made 
them look like so many nymphs that one reads of in 
