H6 UPOLU — M A N O N O — S A V A I I. 



nine days. Here they were joined by Dr. Pickering and Lieutenant 

 Maury, and found the o'd chief IV" a etoa and his son Mole, who were 

 extremely courteous. On the former being presented with some 

 articles, he remarked, that "our property was very gocd, but our 

 good- will better." 



Dr. Pickering engaged natives to accompany him into the interior, 

 and to visit the Mu or burnt district. Preparations for the journey 

 were made in advance, and among other things it was stipulated, 

 that there should be only two meals a day : one early in the morning, 

 and another in the evening. The first day, however, was to form an 

 exception. 



Mr. Hardie accompanied the party for a few miles, and they soon 

 after their departure met a native who was styled "the Lord of the 

 Forest." The party were desirous that this man should accompany 

 them, for his appearance promised more than that of the others, and it 

 seemed it was necessary to obtain his permission before they could 

 enter the forest. In times of scarcity, his domains become of great 

 value, in consequence of the quantity of wild yams they yield. This 

 person agreed to accompany them, and they proceeded along a good 

 path through cultivated grounds of Taro, Draeama, &c. Mr. Hardie, 

 before leaving the party, endeavoured to make the natives understand 

 the nature of Dr. Pickering's errand ; the latter was unable to make 

 himself understood by them. They had not proceeded far before they 

 came to an uninhabited house, where the natives stopped for the pur- 

 pose of preparing dinner, the cooking of which occupied three hours ! 

 The day was in consequence well advanced before they again started, 

 and at about 4 p. m. they reached an open shed, about two miles from 

 the last stopping-place, where the natives concluded to halt for the 

 night. The occupants, who consisted of two elderly women and a 

 young man, were dispossessed, and the shed was enclosed by hanging 

 up leaves of the Heliconia, which resemble those of the banana. They 

 then prepared' some excellent cocoa-nut pudding, and heated some 

 cocoa-nut milk in the shells. This beverage is usually taken by 

 them every morning and evening ; the natives all saying grace 

 before their meal, and prayers before they went to rest. It was 

 late the next morning before Dr. Pickering could get the party in 

 motion, and pursuing their route* they soon overtook the Lord of the 

 Forest, who had preceded them, and was employed in cutting a path 

 through the woods, although that already made might have been 

 easily passed through. No inducement could make them change 



