46 A MISSION TO VITI. 
sent, on the 19th of June, the ‘Paul Jones,’ a schooner 
of nine tons,—built in the islands by Mr. Jones, an Eng- 
lishman formerly residing at Levuka,—and entirely of 
native woods, Dilo (Calophyllum inophyllum, Linn.) and 
Vaivai (Serianthes Vitiensis, A. Gray), with masts of Fi- 
jian Kowrie-pine. The crew were all half-castes, mostly 
sons of Englishmen who had taken up their residence 
in Fiji. They could speak English more or less flu- 
ently, having had some instruction at the different 
missionary schools. The late Mr. Hunt, one of the 
most distinguished champions of Christianity in these 
parts, seemed to have taken considerable interest in 
their education, and they always spoke in the highest 
terms of him. It was amusing to hear some of their 
English. In Fijian, B, N, and G, are combinations of 
two distinct consonants, sounding like Mb, Nd, and 
Ng. Joe, our cook, a very good-natured fellow, had the 
greatest difficulty in steering clear of these letters. In 
spite of all our pains, he would insist in telling us that 
the “yams were quite ndone,” and that “mbreakfast was 
ready.” 
The captain of the ‘Paul Jones’ brought a letter 
from the consul informing me that Colonel Smythe had 
not yet arrived, and advising me to hasten my depar- 
ture from Somosomo if I wished to take advantage of an 
excursion he had arranged to the dominions of Kuru- 
duadua, a powerful heathen chief, hitherto inaccessible 
to all missionary influence, and residing on the large 
island of Viti Levu. My mind was at once made up. In 
a few hours, all my baggage was packed, and embarked. 
During my stay at Somosomo, many of my things had 
