164 



PHYSICAL HISTORY OF MAN. 



water-channels. These were crossed on a pole placed horizontally 

 nearly a foot beneath the surface of the water ; and to a White man, 

 were passable only in one mode, astride the neck of a Feejeean. A 

 woman had been gathering shellfish among the mangroves; and on 

 our arrival at the village, the product of her industry was brought to 

 us, together with yams. We passed the night in a small house, with 

 the chief and one or two of his men ; and in the morning, we re- 

 turned to the watering place. 



It has been asserted, that a European " knowing the language, 

 could travel throughout the Feejee Islands, provided that he carried 

 nothing to tempt the cupidity of the natives; that he would be every- 

 where hospitably entertained, and would fare as well as the people 

 themselves." A European would doubtless have many advantages 

 over a native in such an undertaking ; but I did not hear that any 

 one had made the trial. I was informed, however, that the journey 

 had been "once made by land, from Mbua Bay to Naloa." 



On the 20th, Mr. Waldron, Mr. Brackenridge, and myself, accom- 

 panied by a European interpreter, set out on a visit to the sandalwood 

 district. We supplied ourselves with provisions, being forewarned 

 of the necessity of it by Tui Mbua; who further stated, that "it was 

 more than ten years since a White man had been at his village, and 

 that we should be objects of some curiosity." We were conveyed in 

 his canoe; for he still had command of the water, and was thus ena- 

 bled to keep up a communication with the disjointed portions of his 

 former dominions. 



After proceeding among the mangroves, more than a mile up the 

 northern stream, we landed at a place where Tui Mbua's " former 

 town was situated;" but being hemmed in by the defection of his 

 own people, he had been forced to remove to the summit of a liigh 

 rocky knoll, about two miles inland. 



After reaching the existing village, and resting awhile, we proposed 

 making an excursion into the country beyond ; and Tui Mbua ap- 

 pointed two natives to accompany us. We had scarcely proceeded 

 a hundred yards, before our guides pointed to another rock-village, 

 less than a mile distant ; and it appeared that there were enemies, 

 even in this direction. Turning to the right, we were led through 

 one or two small plantations, and over some diversified ground, where 

 we added to our botanical collections. Towards evening, we re- 

 ascended to the village by a different route. 



