OUR CANOE CAPSIZED. 207 
where salt is abundant, had presented the people, whom 
he had cleared out of almost everything, with a supply 
of that useful article, for they assured us they had no 
canoes left to get across the river, and should have to 
commence that very day to build new ones. On push- 
ing down the river, we overtook the flotilla, heavily 
laden with goods of all descriptions, and had no diffi- 
culty in getting the loan of a canoe to Navua. We had 
little reason to congratulate ourselves on this change. 
At the next rapid we could not bale faster than the 
water came in at the stern ; the outrigger lost its balance, 
and in another moment the canoe was capsized.* Soro- 
mato, my faithful friend, by a desperate dash saved a 
bundle of my clothes, including cloak, and succeeded in 
getting them on shore dry. Having been up to my neck 
in water, I felt very thankful to Soromato. The natives 
kindled a fire on a gravelly spot, and two of the boys 
had to chew kava, which, in the absence of a proper 
bowl and straining fibres, was made in large leaves and 
squeezed through ferns. 
The canoe being baled out, and put again in proper 
order, we continued our voyage, and without any further 
mishap reached Navua. Kuruduadua met us close to 
the town; he had been all day busy in the field, and 
said he had a great number of people staying with him 
to assist in his agricultural labours. When we stepped 
on shore, supper was just being presented to them. It 
was an immense heap of provisions, and though there 
were probably two hundred visitors, there must have 
been ample for all. 
* Tn our Plate representing Koro Basabasaga will be seen a good speci- 
men of a Fijian river-canoe with its outrigger. 
