AFRO-INDIAN REGIONS. 



331 



TAIN-CRESTS ON OvoLAU, I was stroiigly reminded of similar situations 

 in Tutuila and Taheiti : by a scarlet-flowered Metrosideros growing 

 around ; in company with a Myricoid Mijrsine, an Ahfonia, a simple- 

 leaved Weinmannia, a Eurya ?, some Melastomacece, and an increased 

 variety of epidendric Ferns and epidendric Orchidacece. On the other 

 hand ; one of the Melastomacece was vine-like, ascending twenty to 

 thirty feet, with red terminal flowers ; and other mountain plants 

 now made their first appearance: as a Spirsea-like gm. ZantJioxyl. ? 

 having simple, verticillate leaves ; Calophyllam ? twenty feet high ; 

 a panicled Myrsine ? ; one or more species of La urus ; a Cinnamomum ; 

 a tree species of Caryophylhis, with flower-buds closely resembling 

 cloves, but destitute of flavor; and for the first time an East Indian 

 fern, the remarkable flabellate Polypodium? WaUicldi; accompanied 

 by a congener of the New Zealand Podocarpoid, an arborescent shrub, 

 with the leaves lanceolate, but destitute of lateral nervures. 



On the 15th, I parted from Mr. Brackenridge, and went on board 

 the Peacock ; which ship sailed about noon, proceeding Westward 

 along the neighboring coast of Viti-levu, the largest of the two main 

 islands. 



On the 16th, the Peacock entered an opening in the coral-reef, and 

 anchored in the Southern branch of the estuary that flows by the 

 town of Rewa. 



On the 17th, I landed with others on Nukulau ; a flat coral-islet, or 

 rather expanse, being not entirely disconnected from the outside coral- 

 reef. The surface was covered with trees; the species being few 

 in number, and chiefly such as occur in submaritime situations on 

 other Polynesian Groups : a large Amerimnoid tree was however 

 met with ; and a fine example of the gigantic Ficus seen on Tonga- 

 tabu, its trunk consisting in like manner of a congeries of roots. 



Towards sunset on the 18th, embarking with others in the mis- 

 sionary-canoe, I proceeded " six miles" up the estuary to the town of 

 Eewa. The environs in all directions are flat and alluvial, and in 

 times of freshets, are said to be extensively inundated by river-water 

 coming from the Interior. — On the 19th, Mr. Rich and myself, with a 

 Feejee guide and several Tonga men, crossed in a canoe the main 

 channel ; here nearly a fourth of a mile wide, and quite river-like, 

 the water being fresh to the taste, with the current constantly onward ; 

 but the tide continues to rise and fall, the fishes and aquatic animals 

 are with one or two exceptions marine, and the mangroves had not 



