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PHYSICAL HISTORY OF MAN. 



women were seen bearing bamboo stems, on their way to procure 

 water: this was drawn up from an excavation like a well, about 

 ten feet in depth, by means of a cocoa-nut shell fastened to a pole. 

 Other women were employed in pottery; working altogether by hand, 

 but making large vessels of great regularity in size and shape : the 

 resin of a species of Dammara, closely allied to the Kauri of New Zea- 

 land, was used for glazing. Some twenty canoes were lying on the 

 beach ; forming the largest fleet met with at the Feejee Islands. I 

 returned from the islet in one of these canoes, with a rapidity une- 

 qualled by European sailing vessels, the outrigger being lifted above 

 the water sometimes for a distance of fifty yards. 



On visiting the Leonidas, I met with the solitary instance of a Fee- 

 jeean, who was really and generally esteemed by traders. It ap- 

 peared that an unfortunate " native from another district, who came 

 to assist in procuring biche-le-mar, had been waylaid at night :" fish- 

 ing operations were in consequence at an end, and Captain Eagleston 

 had concluded to quit the station. 



On the 17th, the Peacock left Naloa. In sailing along the coast, 

 fires were frequently observed on the hills; having been kindled, it 

 was said, " for burning over the grounds, as the season had now 

 arrived for planting yams." 



On the 19th, the Peacock reached Muthuata; one of the most im- 

 portant of the Feejee towns. Ovi'ing to the close vicinity of the high- 

 lands, the mountaineers make frequent visits to this part of the coast. 

 And in reference to the character of the natives, the district was re- 

 garded by traders as one of the worst in the whole group. 



In front of the town, we saw some turtle-pens; which were shallow 

 pits formed within the flow of the tide, and surrounded with stakes. 

 The cattle brought from Taheiti about five years previously, by Cap- 

 tain Eagleston, were still remaining. The location seemed a more 

 favourable one for cattle, than any part of the windward or rainy side 

 of the group ; but I remarked an unlooked-for obstacle, in the aro- 

 matic properties of some of the most abundant grasses. 



On the 24th, I set out with a party, to ascend the heights, under 

 the guidance of one of the Rotuma men; and we were joined by 

 other inhabitants of Muthuata, who took advantage of this oppor- 

 tunity of visiting, to them a new country. Before entering the ham- 

 let of mountaineers, situated about half way up, our guide warned us 

 to have our fire-arms in readiness. We however met with a friendly 

 reception ; but there was some unexpected difficulty even here, in 



