156 A MISSION TO VITI. 
to its southern coast. The soil appeared everywhere of 
the richest kind. We saw no plains of any size, but 
series after series of undulating ranges of no very great 
height, well suited for growing coffee, tea, and cotton. 
Now and then there was a fine bird’s-eye view of the 
country, which Kuruduadua was always careful to point 
out, evidently enjoying our expressions of delight on 
these occasions. I saw a good many plants that inter- 
ested me, and their collection ultimately isolated me 
and Soromato, henceforth my shadow, from the rest of 
the party. 
I had just been speculating on the cause of the Fi- 
jian, in common with other insular floras, being poor 
in gay-coloured, and rich in green, white, and yellow 
flowers, when, lo! a look in the valley revealed bushes 
covered with a perfect mantle of scarlet and blue, 
thrown up to great advantage by the bright rays of the 
sun. I saw my travelling companions had made a halt 
near the very spot where nature had condescended to 
refute a deeply-rooted generalization. I clambered 
down the hill as fast as the condition of the ground 
would admit, and for awhile lost sight of the gay dis- 
play by intervening objects. A few more steps and 
I stood before a startling sight—Colonel Smythe’s artil- 
lery uniform hung up to dry in the sun! 
In detailing the violent emotions I had passed through, 
my companions enjoyed a good laugh at my expense, 
and invited me to cool myself by sitting down to a cup 
of hot tea, pork, and yams, all spread out picnic fashion 
on the grass, and in the shade of some fine cocoa-nut 
palms. The village where I met with this mortification 
