TJie Night of Heathenism. 207 
yaka^ yields materials from which fishing nets are made, while 
the earth furnishes clay for red and brown pottery ware. 
Many useful trees grow in the islands, from which is obtained 
large supplies of beautiful hard wood. So prolific is the 
earth in that sunny climate, that with little trouble, the 
natives may dig, or gather refreshing vegetables and fruits, 
some of which grow spontaneously. Tomatoes, nutmegs, 
arrowroot, nuts, and plums, abound wild ; while cotton, 
coffee, and rice, can be cultivated with little difficulty. Fish, 
the harvest of the sea, supplies much food for the people, 
who manifest great ability in managing their boats and canoes. 
On some of the islands are to be seen some curious boil- 
ing springs. They are principally to be found on Ngau, 
Vanua Levu, and Viti Levu, and are greatly used by the 
natives, both for cooking and bathing. They appear to be, 
in some measure, medicinal ; and are always to be found by 
the side of cool springs of water. In the old cannibal times, 
these springs were held in high repute for boiling murdered 
bodies in, but are now used for cooking vegetables, and crabs. 
Occasional shocks of earthquake are also experienced in 
the neighbourhood of the springs, and suggest the idea that 
they are due to volcanic action. 
The Fijians also excel in the art of wig makings though 
what use a half-naked savage would have for a wig, it is 
difficult to say. Many of the islanders, however, take great 
pride in fottowing this art. Their houses are made with 
reeds, and thatched with long grass, cocoa-nut leaves, and 
palm leaves. Although once so savage, the Fijians were 
rightly described as "an ingenious, industrious people." 
Among the productions of the islands must be named 
the beche-de-mer^ a black snail or slug, which, after being 
dried, packed, and exported to China, is much used for the 
manufacture of a delicious and nutritious kind of soup, by 
