214 A MISSION TO VITI. 
moments like these. We were determined not to let 
our explorations come to a sudden stop for want of 
something to drink. Mr. Pritchard left me the option 
between procuring fire or water; to guard against lame 
excuses on the part of the natives, it being thought ne- 
cessary that one of us should go with them in search of 
a spring. Knowing what a hard job it was to make fire 
by rubbing, without pausing, two pieces of wood to- 
gether, especially in the tropics, I declared in favour of 
getting the water. My companion, who did not seem to 
relish descending so many feet and climbing up again, 
was evidently pleased with his lot. In spite of all the 
natives were saying about making the wood answer, 
he resolutely began rubbing away. Great exertions 
were required ; hat, jacket, vest, and necktie discarded, 
to obtain greater freedom of action. At last came the 
reward. The wood began to smoke, sparks appeared, 
went out again, reappeared, and, brought in contact with 
a piece of bark-cloth cut off the tail of a boy’s dress, 
soon produced a flame. 
All this time I had been sitting on an old stump, 
feigning to be quite insensible to certain broad hints 
about the desirableness of looking after the execution 
of my part of the contract. When the first flame had 
appeared I at last bestirred myself, and to the surprise of 
the fire-kindler, instead of going a long way for water, 
climbed up a neighbouring tree on which I had noticed 
an epiphytical plant (Astelia montana, Seem.), the leaves 
of which, acting as a kind of rain-gauge, were filled 
with pure water: by merely emptying these the necessary 
supply was obtained. Ere long, tea was ready, and re- 
