THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[April i, i8q2 
on iirhich we went up. When we got down we walked 
along the shore of n freshwater lagoon about 80 acres 
in extent and reached Weasisi Bay, 8 miles or so 
distant at 8-30 p.nj., the ship having come round from 
Sulphnr Bay in the njcantimc. Wo went on board at 
once as news had arrived that the uiisfioi ary’s wife 
on Erromanga, the next island, was seriously ill, in the 
hopes that we might start away at once ; it could not 
be managed, however, but we sailed some hours earlier, 
than was originally intended and arrived at Dillon s 
Bay, Erromanga Island, shortly after noon, and were 
glad to bear on arrival that the lady was better and par- 
ticularly as her husband was a great favourite ou 
board and was universally liked and esloemod. few 
of us visited the graves of the missionaries, Williiitus 
and Gordon, who wore killed some years ago by the 
natives and a photograph of the grave and tombstone was 
taken, with thn native who is a fou of the man that 
killed one of them leaning against tbs stone. It is 
very pretty at Dillon’s Bay, about the roissiou-houae, 
the steep hill on one side and the lofty trees hero 
and there and grass land on the other, with the 
little cone into which a freshwater river Iruns form- 
ing a delightful scene. Some availed themselves of the 
opportunity of getting a freshwater tath in the river, 
while one was intent gathering curiosities and pur- 
chasing odds and ends, amongst others the nativo 
women’s dresses, which ate uncommon and rather to be 
admired, made of pandanns leaves which ate atrurg 
singly on a cord, it taking some dozen or eo of theso 
to form one dress ; the leaves of the outer skirts 
sometimes having a pattern with the entla coloured. 
Before leaving we were entertained in a room apart 
from the misaiou-houso by our kind and hospitable 
host, who although be hud his own troubisa insisUd 
on our having aomelhing to eat before wo lott. 
Amongst other shrubs and dowers 1 knew well, I noticed 
here lantann and the bougainvillea creeper. Wessikd 
at 6 p.ro. and anchored in i*ort Vila, Kfaii or Sand- 
wich Island, at 8-80 a.m. the 29tl). I went iialiore with 
acme others and called on Monsieur Ohevillard lato 
Mayor of the Frcneh Oommnmi there, whieli has aince 
collapsed. He entertained na most hospitably and 
took me over his oeffee and oooouiit estate called France 
Villa and kindly allowed me to take from his gardtn 
fomo euchatis lilies and rosea for the ladies ou board. 
It was ralhor warm here, Iho temperature in the shade 
being about 88*. The French Company have large 
estates heie, hut owing to want of time 1 had 
to put off my intended visit. Next morning I went 
ashore sgain snd got a good furn, the first for my collec- 
tion. We sailed at 10-30 a.m. on the 30th June and 
arrived ot Ilavannah Harbor, same island, at 2 p.m This 
harbour is well protected by leverul islands and almost 
land-locked, but has not such good anchorages as Fort 
Vila After visiting one or two stores here we went 
to see a garden belonging to a Frenebmau where there 
were various kinds ot vegetables and were surprised 
to see even carrots and turnips doing well. We tin n 
started for the missionary’s house and on the way psssed 
through the property of the French, where some time 
ago they had troops stationed. The place has since 
been allowed to grow up and the bnildicgs are un- 
tenanted. After spending fome time at the miseion- 
house where we were made very welcome, we went 
on board and sailed at 6-40 a.m. for Tonga. An -tiufc 
we naased the labour btigaiilmo “ Helena with 60 
recruits on bond, who chocre 1 in their own way as we 
passed them. This traffic I learn is to be stop,.ed 
at the end of the year, U, very enjoyable steaming 
along, with many islands in Sight. We arrived at 2-30 
p.m knd soon went ashore, most of the P^ty 
to the takinK » walk for about 
two miles into the fori st, which we enjoyed very much. 
The peeps of forest soeutry were biaiiliful, tho 
of some of the great fuicst trees being hall covered with 
different ferns and orchids and tho branches festooned 
with creepera ; the buuclicB of wax-like flowi rs 
mi* aIia •!» with D6lfuiD6« ^ WAB hcr6 ab.6 tO 
mike, good addition fo my fern and orchid 
I was loath to leave such a beautiful spot and wo la 
have wandered on regardless of the lapse of time, had 
4 iot one of the natives suggested our return, A fcOuiJ 
many of the natives here do their own trading in 
copra direct. While laying at anchor hero the islands 
of Api, Mai or Three Hills, Makura, Malassa, and 
Email were in sight. We sailed at noon and arrived at 
Sakow anchorage, Api hland, at 2 p.m. After staviog 
here a short time we sailed again for Buniimha to land 
a missionary and hia wife, Uiis being their station, 
snd from whom I got an invitUion to stay ou my 
retnrn. At 6 a.m. 3rd Ju'y we were off again for 
Big Bay on oppesite side of the island, going between 
tho islands of Api and Lsminii, which aro covered 
with dense vegetation and tliere is a white beach, 
also between the islands of Fsama and Loperi ou one 
side and Api on tho other. Boperi is a volcano, conical 
and rising abruptly to tho height of 6,U0U feet, hut 
is not active at present. Great shosls of fiying-fish 
were to be seen aa we went along here. At 3-35 a.m. 
wo anchored in Big Bay and soon put the missionary 
and hia house ashore, be . being the first missionary 
to be settled bore. As we w- nt ashore, oue could cot 
help noticing the scene i efure us, high and broken 
laud covered with tropical vegetation interspersed with 
coconut trees, while ou the right of us was a very large 
reef over the edge of winch the sea was breaking, 
while the natives were to be seen coming to the beach 
to welcome tho misaidnary, the whole forming a novel 
sight. We Could only get to the edge of the reef 
in the boat, same distance from tho shore; ns the tide 
was out, the ladies were carried over tho reef by the 
nativis and the real of us waded. The natives here 
I S elsowheie were armed with Buider cifies and bows and 
arrows, some of the arrows being poisoned which were 
carried incases. The natives said they were glad that 
a mifsionary was going to live there and that war 
would now cease ; this rounded very much like blarney. 
After the usual shako bauds which somo of them 
had learnt elsewhere, wo started away from tho 
hill on which the now mhsion-boiise was to be built. 
Wo were very tired and hnugry when wo got to the 
(op, tucker not having been brought with ua. Wo 
got somo fine largo bananas roasted in their covers 
on a fire which the natives (oun had ablaze. When we 
got to the beach we found refreshments had been 
sent ssbu.'c, which we soon did justice to. Mcsntinio 
tho rativi s were huaily engaged llcnliiig the timbirs of 
the house ashore and carrying them up llie bench ; they 
were very willing and merry oi or it and wore particularly 
interested in the live stock that came ashore, viz., a 
cat and a goat, Uie latter resisting all efforts of the 
iislivi B to mate friends with him, but at last by giving 
him a good scope of ropo they managed to securo 
him to a troo. Before leaving, touts wore creeled 
as a temporary home for the mirsiouary and those 
who were staying to help. After finishing the cargo 
end Baying goodb.ve we failed el 9 n.in. and anchored in 
Port Sandwich, Mallicolo Island. The French Company 
have a small pier here and somo good stoi os built of stone. 
After delivering mails and Iraiishipping one of our 
patty to U.jM. S. •• Koyalist " wo lolt for Ouleii, Sas- 
soon Bay, stopped there fora short time, at Fangkumu, 
at Port Stanley, which has a good but small harbour 
protected by two islands Uripio and Urikiko, also at 
traders’ stations on llano and Walo Islands, while at 
Walo, one of tho missionaries and myself left the ship’s 
party and went away into tho bush, in the direction 
from whence came tounda of a sing-elug. The 
nearer we approached, the loader the yells became 
and the less inclined did I feel to go on, and suggested 
to my friend, that we had better go back, but aa he 
said it would bo well worth seeing on we wont, and after 
a walk of about a mile and a half we got to a largo 
place; cleared of forest, in the form of a square, at ono 
side of which some 60 or 70 men and boys were seated 
singing and teatiug time with their hands and fe^et. 
Yells were heard in the forest in the opposite direction 
from aWit tho same number of men, who presently 
with a rush enmo out of tho forest and advanced to- 
wards (hose silting down, beating regular time with 
their feet. Bofero they reached the front lino they 
retreated, and again ativanoing with a yell charged in re- 
gu'ar order amongst the files of those sitting down, 
thin Buldonly turning to the right they left them 
lud turning again they advaucod in the oppOMv® 
