324 MALOLO. 



the invitation of old Tui Mbua, who was on board the Vincennes, was 

 taken advantage of, and several officers embarked with him, to spend 

 the night at his village, called Fakosega. They were accompanied 

 with David Whippy, as interpreter. Their principal object was to 

 obtain specimens of sandalwood, which has now become so rare on 

 these islands, and which the old chief promised to find for them. 



This district of Tui Mbua is that whence the sandalwood was for- 

 merly obtained. Tui Mbua furnished our gentlemen with guides, 

 and they set out. The country was the same as before described on 

 the other route, consisting of barren hills, trees being only found in 

 the valleys, which are of small extent. They were soon shown several 

 specimens of sandalwood, very small, and hardly to be distinguished 

 from the surrounding shrubs. The natives call it assi. Proceeding 

 on to the top of the hill, several solitary trees of sandalwood were met 

 with, the largest of which were no more than twenty feet high, and 

 had a stem only six inches in diameter at the height of eighteen 

 inches from the base. The general habit of the tree is represented as 

 of slender form, and a growth very much resembling that of a peach- 

 tree. It is found to be affected by a kind of dry-rot, which, however, 

 does not lessen the fragrance of the wood. They procured specimens 

 both in fruit and flower ; the latter is not conspicuous. The fresh 

 wood is destitute of odour, and therefore it cannot be recognised by 

 this property. The district where this wood is found is exceedingly 

 small, being no more than fifteen miles square. A line running north 

 from Lecumba Point, and including Anganga Island, will comprise 

 the whole of it. This district forms the most western point of the 

 island of Vanua-levu. Its soil is rocky and barren, but not more so 

 than that of several other districts that have been visited. 



Mr. Brackenridge remarks, that they met with a species of Rhus, 

 which grows in the form of an upright tree. Nothing could induce 

 the natives to ascend to obtain specimens of it, for it is considered by 

 them as poisonous; and they made signs that it would injure their 

 hands and feet, or any part of the body that came in contact with it. 

 Our naturalists, however, obtained specimens of the tree by breaking 

 down a branch with a hooked stick. 



Tui Mbua's town is situated on an almost inaccessible peak, six 

 hundred feet above the level of the sea. It contains about four hun- 

 dred inhabitants, including men, women, and children. They are all 

 now miserably poor, and have little to eat, having recourse to the 



