il PREFACE. 
unsuccessful.” 
ties, dangers, and privations, 
worth being made known, and, moreover, 
an idea which I have once made up my mind to carry out, I resolved on the present volume, 
which Messrs. Reeve and Co. were induced to publish. The time it took to work up 
the materials and the expense [ had to incur were much greater than I had ever calculated 
upon, and I might have been altogether unable to proceed with the task had T not 
succeeded in supplying myself with fands for the purpose by undertaking (during the 
course of publication) three arduous voyages to tropical America. Subscribers will there- 
fore kindly excuse the delay that has occurred in the issue of the different. parts, as without 
it they would probably not have seen the conrpletion of this ‘ Flora.’ 
It is now my pleasing duty to offer my best thanks to all those who aided, directly and 
indirectly, in the production of this work. Sir W. J. Hooker, who originated the idea, and 
who, during the whole time of my exploration of Viti, took the liveliest interest in my pro- 
ceedings and encouraged me with letters, is unfortunately beyond the reach of my thanks ; 
nevertheless, I desire to express here my deep sense of obligation and gratitude for having 
inki : spense, under great difficul- 
Thinking what had been collected at pe much expense, eS : 
and in a country only partially reclaimed from canmbahsm, was 
having made it a point in life never to relinquish 
afforded me the opportunity of exploring so interesting a group of islands, and, moreover, I 
shall always regard his memory with profound and affectionate regard. My sincere thanks 
are also due to Dr. J. D. Hooker for having by his counsel materially contributed to the 
results IT have obtained. My grateful acknowledgments are due to Messrs. J. J. Bennett 
and W. Carruthers, of the British Museum, for much assistance rendered in determining my 
plants and for correcting my proof-sheets. I have also to tender my special thanks to Pro- 
fessor Reichenbach, for working up the Orchids; to Mr. Herm. Wendland, for the Palms ; 
to the late Mr. Schott, for the Aroids; to Mr. Carruthers, for the Ferns; to Mr. Mitten, for 
the Mosses and Hepaties; to the Revv, Churchill Babington and J. M. Crombie, for the 
Lichens; and to the Rev. M. J. Berkeley and Mr. W. G. Smith, for the Fungi. IT am 
much indebted to Professor A. Gray for comparing a set of my Viti plants with those 
collected by the United States Exploring Expedition, and sending me the result for pub- 
lication. I should record the names of other frieuds who have given me assistance in the 
progress of the work, especially of Major-General Munro, Messrs. Casimir de Candolle, 
J. Smith, and Ch. Prentice, and the Rey. W. W. Newbould. Last, not least, I beg to 
tender my thanks to Mr. Walter Fitch for gracing this work by the beautiful productions of 
his pencil. . 
. I have already expressed in the narrative of our expedition, and I have great pleasure 
mM repeating in this place, the many obligations I am under 
Viti, to whom the leaders of their church in London and Sydney kindly gave me letters of 
eee ae a os ae es with cordiality, doing all that lay in their 
sina Pn Ae! nt i 10n. Several ot them had formed small collec- 
3 wed to avail myself in working up this * Flora.” We 
to the Wesleyan missionaries in 
