138 A-MISSION TO VITL 
orbitant in their charges as to render it imperative to 
look for cheaper provision markets. Fiji had answered 
their purpose much better, and they predicted the arrival 
of a regular whaling fleet as soon as the great facilities 
here offered should have become more generally known 
amongst the trade. Having their families with them, 
they gave us several pressing invitations to come on 
board, which the Consul, myself, and all the mission- 
aries gladly accepted. These vessels enjoyed the repu- 
tation of being patterns of what whaleships should be; 
and I must record my surprise at the scrupulous neat- 
ness, cleanliness, and even elegance prevailing. The 
Captain’s cabins were fitted up and kept better than I 
have ever seen them in any vessel. 
When our friends heard that we were anxious to 
ascend Buke Levu, the great mountain situated at the 
western extremity of Kadavu, they offered us one of 
their whale-boats for that purpose; and one of their 
mates, a skilful steerer, volunteered to pilot us to the 
foot of the mountain. Mr. Pritchard and I left Tavuki 
13th of August early in the morning. It was quite 
fine when we started, but after an hour's pull, a gale 
sprang up, and after being nearly swamped in going 
through a narrow passage of a reef, where the water 
was breaking, we were compelled to postpone our at- 
tempt to a more favourable time, and land at Yawe, a 
town famous in Fiji for its very large specimens of 
pottery, made without a wheel, and taking as our 
crockery does, its name from the place of manufacture. 
We hoped that it might clear up during the night, to 
allow us to proceed in the morning; but the next day 
