378 A MISSION TO VITI. 
are occasionally seen in the hands of native children, and 
they have rather a pretty effect. The bamboo, vernacu- 
larly termed “ Bitu,” is represented by two species, a 
large and a small one, both of which are rather local in 
their geographical range. The trunk of the larger is in 
general use for vessels to contain water, some of which 
are six feet long. It requires a certain knack, with some 
difficulty acquired by foreigners, to pour the water out 
of the small hole on one side of the upper end without 
spilling some of the contents. The natives drink out of 
these vessels by pouring the water in their mouth with- 
out allowing their lips to touch them: sipping the fluid 
as we do would be considered an act of impropriety. 
Bamboo split up in narrow strips makes capital torches, 
which do not require, as has been stated, to be dipped 
in cocoa-nut oil in order to make them give a clear and 
bright light. Fishing rafts, pillows for sleeping, instru- 
ments for beating time to national songs, pan-flutes, 
fences for gardens and courtyards,—all are constructed 
of these giant grasses. At Nagadi, in Viti Levu, I visited 
a heathen temple surrounded by a bamboo fence, some 
of the sticks used being the young shoots entire, with 
unexpanded leaves, and looking like so many fishing 
rods. The priest in charge of this building exhibited a 
bundle of bamboos, which on being struck on the ground 
with the opening downwards produced a peculiarly loud 
and hollow sound. Two single bamboos of different 
lengths are beaten contemporaneously with this large 
bundle in religious ceremonies. An amusing sight is 
presented by a grove of bamboos on fire. When re- 
turning from Namosi, I passed several places where, to 
