162 A MISSION TO VITI. 
great supernatural influence; but if not eaten by ani- 
mals, the food is often stolen by the more enlightened 
class of their own countrymen, and even some foreigners 
occasionally do not disdain to help themselves freely. 
The ascent of Voma was steep, and made us very 
warm indeed. Our native attendants found it equally 
so, though not encumbered with any clothing like our- 
selves; and to cool themselves they thought it no addi- 
tional exertion to climb up a tree and catch the breeze. 
In former times, there had been a town some consider- 
able distance up the mountain, traces of which were 
still visible ; and hence, though there was a thick wood, 
the actual virgin forest did not commence until we had 
attained the height of about 2500 feet above the sea. 
When entering that region we found the trees altogether 
different from those of the lowlands, and densely covered 
with mosses, lichens, and deep orange-colowred orchids 
(Dendrobium Mohlianum, Rchb. fil.). Some of the ferns 
were of antediluvian dimensions. A species of Cinna- 
momum, producing a superior kind of cassia-bark, and 
used by the natives for scenting cocoa-nut oil, and as a 
powerful sudorific, was met with in considerable quan- 
tities. The absence of all large animals, and the limited 
number of birds, impart an air of solemnity to these 
upland forests. Not a sound is heard: all is silence 
—repose ! 
We had to pass over some awkward places, and to 
climb several almost perpendicular rocks, rendered slip- 
pery by water trickling down. However, at half-past ten, 
two hours and a half after starting, Colonel Smythe, Mr. 
Pritchard and myself, reached the summit: Danford 
