228 A MISSION TO VITI. 
cially on the northern shores of Viti Levu and Vanua 
Levu. In July, 1862, they figured, perhaps for the first 
time in Europe, in the bill of fare at a grand dinner given 
in London at Freemasons’ Tavern by the Acclimatiza- 
tion Society. A highly profitable trade in them was car- 
ried on, principally by the Americans, until a few years 
ago, through the political troubles caused by the inva- 
sion of the Tonga islanders, it became impossible to 
collect sufficient for filling a vessel fitted out on purpose. 
As peace has now been re-established, this trade will 
probably revive. As soon as a ship was full it sailed 
direct to Manila, where merchants were eager to pur- 
chase its cargo for the Chinese markets: a cargo of tea, 
sugar, and silks, was then taken in for the homeward 
voyage. Notwithstanding that no insurance of the ves- 
sels engaged could be effected, on account of the bad 
charts of Fiji, the profits realized were very great. A 
whole cargo, which cost $1200, brought $12,000; and 
another, which cost $5500, brought $27,000. As for 
nearly ten years no sea-slugs have been collected, any 
enterprising shipowner dispatching vessels there would 
be able to collect a rich cargo in a very short space of 
time. 
the United States Exploring Expedition, the following costs and returns 
of five cargoes obtained by an American, Captain Eagleston :— 
1st voyage, 617 piculs, cost $1,100, sales $ 8,021 
Qnd_sy, 700 4, 4, $1,200, ,, $17,500 
3rd, ~=—«',080 ,, ~—sg,:—«$3,896, ,, $15,120 
4th =, 840 ,, ,, $1,200, ,, $12,600 
5th , 1,200 ,,  ,, $3,500, ,, $27,000 
A further profit also arises from the investment of the proceeds in Can- 
ton or Manila. This same trader obtained also 4488 pounds of tortoise- 
shell at a cost of $5700, which sold in the United States for $29,050 net. 
