326 FEEJEE GROUP. 
was experienced by our parties in places, which rendered it difficult at 
times to communicate with the natives, but this was apparently con- 
fined to small districts. ‘The natives themselves say, that the language 
of those dwelling on the west end of Vitilevu, is different from that 
which is generally spoken in the group. At the island of Malolo, 
which lies off this part of Vitilevu, we found no difficulty, however, in 
the communications we had with the natives. But this subject will be 
amply treated in the Philological Department, and on that perhaps I 
may have trespassed too much already. 
The language has the dual number, and plurals for expressing large 
and small numbers. It has distinct inclusive and exclusive pronouns, 
and certain pronouns that are only used in speaking of articles of food. 
One of its peculiarities is the combination of consonants without the 
aid of the usual number of vowels; as, for instance, ‘ ndrondrolagi,” 
a rainbow; and this constitutes such a difficulty in its pronunciation, 
that natives of no other group can utter these sounds, unless they lived 
among the Feejees from infancy. 
The language affords various forms of salutation, according to the 
rank of the parties; and great attention is paid to insure that the 
salutation shall have the proper form. Women make their salutations 
in different words from those employed by the men, and no less care 
is taken by them to observe the appropriate formula. Thus, the 
wives of the matanivanua, or landholders, say, on passing a chief’s 
house, “ a-a-vakau dn-wa-a ;” women of the lower orders say, “ ndnoo ;” 
and fishermen’s wives say “ wa-wa,” stooping, with their hands behind 
their heads. 
Equals salute each other with “ei vilitui”” Men of the lower 
orders address chiefs, “ duo-wa turanga,” and the chiefs reply, “ivea 
rakaw.” 
They have also forms of expression equivalent to our “ yes, sir,” “no, 
sir ;” as “ io saka,” and “sanga saka.” 
When the men approach a chief they cry out “ duo-wa,” to which 
the chief replies, “ wa!” The salutation is not accompanied by any 
obeisance of the body, except when a chief is met on his route, when 
all retire out of his path, crouch, and lower their clubs. 
The mode of salutation varies in different parts of the group; but 
in all, a chief would be thought ill-mannered if he did not return the 
salutation of a common man. 
Dr. Fox, the acting surgeon of the Vincennes, had an opportunity, 
during the stay of the ship at the island of Ovolau, to examine many 
of the diseases of the natives, and of practising among them to some 
extent. The most remarkable disease, and one that is believed to be 
