have been seen among the inhabitants of New Guinea may have been of this description.

About one-fourth of a mile from Vaturua is another town, called Matainole, which also belongs to Tui Mora, and is in all respects similar to the other. Between the two towns is a kind of causeway, of some width, built by the natives, by throwing the earth up from each side. The paths wind along it, and on each side are extensive taropatches, which were flooded. Mangroves abound here, while the drier grounds are covered with plantations of bananas and cocoa-nut groves.

On the way from Vaturua to Matainole, a piece of consecrated ground was passed, on which were mounds of stone, with a rude idol, dressed with a turban and the Feejee hair-pins. The idol was sur rounded by clubs set up edgewise, and many spears, arrows, trinkets, cocoa-nuts, &c., lay around, which had evidently been placed there as offerings. A large party of natives, who were with our gentlemen, on seeing them approach it, deserted, excepting a man and boy, who, contrary to the others, seemed anxious for them to partake of the offerings which lay about, and offered to sell the idol, which was bought for a paper of vermilion. Neither of them, however, could be tempted to touch a single article himself, although they had no objection to our gentlemen doing so. On the next day, Mr. Peale returning from his jaunt, took his purchase and carried it on board.

Tui Mora attended to the disposal of the different articles that were brought for sale, consisting principally of taro, yams, fruit (shaddocks, bananas, lemons, and cocoa-nuts), but not a pig was to be seen of any size; in fact, these people had but little food to spare.

The houses are by no means as substantial as those at the principal towns of Ambau and Rewa; their framework is much smaller, and the eaves extend to the ground. Both the walls and roof are of reeds, thatched.

The chiefs of the Mbua district are not considered as belonging to the nobility of the islands, but to the class kai-si; it is only since the whites have frequented the islands, that this place has become of any note. Formerly Rawaike, Tui Mora's father, the Tui Mbua, or lord of Mbua, governed the whole district, which comprises the coast from Buia Point to beyond Naloa on the north shore, or about onesixth of the island of Vanua-levu, and is next to that of Nandi on the west, although there are two or three independent towns between them near Buia P. int.

In 1809, when Mr. Vanderford, who was master's mate on board the Vincennes, was there, Rawaike was very powerful, and exercised

rule over nearly the whole island. The bay of Sandalwood was then thickly populated, and appeared to enjoy much political consideration in the group. Since the accession of the present Tui Mbua, Makatu, its authority is very much decreased, and it now is of scarcely any consideration at all. Makatu was born in the district of Nandi, but was a vasu of Mbua, and managed, when Rawaike died, to be chosen king. Since that time they have had continual civil wars, in which many of the people have been killed, while others have sought a different abode. This last war, to which Captain Hudson put a momentary cessation, had lasted more than five months, during which time they had killed upwards of fifty of the enemy, and lost about thirty of their own men. Among the reasons assigned for not coming to terms long before was "the fear of being clubbed by the opposite party through

treachery."

One of the surveying boats, with Passed Midshipman Blunt, returned from the island of Yendua, with James Strahan, seaman, belonging to the Vincennes, who had fallen from a tree while cutting a sprit, and broken his leg. The boat was again despatched, with an extra quantity of provisions, to make up for that consumed by the delay the accident had occasioned.

On the 9th, many natives were on board, and gave an exhibition of a war-dance (dimba) on deck: many of the officers thought it bore a striking resemblance to the war-dance of New Zealand. The performers held a paddle in one hand, while with the other they struck their thighs, keeping time to a song from the whole. They moved slowly forward and backward, in a bending posture. On the finishing of the chorus they stopped simultaneously and stood upright, the leader repeating, in a hurried loud tone, a short recitative, which the rest. answered by their usual guttural shout, huh! huh! huh! flourishing their paddles in the air in great excitement.

On the 10th, Mr. Spieden, purser of the Peacock, visited the shore for the purpose of purchasing provisions, and notice was given that all the produce they would bring would be purchased. In consequence of this the natives brought a quantity of yams, taro, papaws, shaddocks, lemons, &c., together with an abundance of crabs, of which, all that the boat could carry were purchased. Hatchets, knives, plane-irons, scissors, beads, fish-hooks, looking-glasses, red cloth, and red paint were given in return, of which the two latter articles were preferred. As Mr. Spieden was not able to carry away all they had collected, their expectations of a market were not realized, and they threw the remainder into the river, saying they had been told, "the white men never told lies, but they now saw they had two faces."

In the afternoon Captain Hudson got under way, although nearly all the officers and men were still at work on the survey, and anchored the ship off the northern point of Mbua Bay. This point is called Dimba-dimba, and is considered by the natives as sacred ground; it is kept strictly from any kind of disturbance, for it is supposed to be inhabited by the spirits of the departed, and to be the place where they embark for the regions of Ndengei. It is a most beautiful spot, and in strong contrast with the surrounding country, which is in many places devoid of trees, while here they flourish as nature has planted them. The ground gradually rises from the shore for a short distance, then succeed abrupt precipices, of forty or fifty feet in height; and the land, as it recedes from the water, forms a kind of hanging garden, on which is seen a beautiful growth of large forest-trees, with here and there clumps of shrubbery of the tropical climates, which give it a peculiar aspect. The quiet and hallowed appearance was well calculated to keep up the impression that their priests have made upon them.

On the 11th, the Peacock again got under way, and passed along between the shore and reefs. Here large schools of fish were passed through, apparently of two kinds, a small and larger one, of which the former leaped entirely out of the water.

By the persuasion of the pilot, Captain Hudson was induced to attempt an outer passage, that the pilot thought existed round the island of Anganga; but after getting on coral knolls twice, Captain Hudson returned to the inshore channel, leading towards Ruke-ruke Bay, which is the next beyond Mbua.

There is a high and insulated peak north of Dimba-dimba Point, which has a town perched on its very top.

The bay of Ruke-ruke has a reef across its mouth, leaving only a narrow ship-channel into it. They anchored under Ivaca Peak, a high and bold bluff, whose height, by triangulation, is one thousand five hundred and sixty-three feet. On its top is also a town. The island of Anganga is immediately opposite to this peak. To the passage between them Captain Hudson proposed to give the name of MonkeyFace Passage, in consequence of one of the rocks having a remarkable resemblance to the face of that animal.

They visited the village of Wailea, now containing only fifty persons. A few years since most of the former inhabitants were exterminated by the warriors of Ambau, who frequently make excursions thus far.

On the 12th, they were under way at an early hour, and soon after passed the rock where Captain Dillon's adventure occurred. Captain Eagleston, of the Leonidas, came on board, and piloted them to Naloa

Bay. The Leonidas saluted the Peacock with nine guns, which it was regretted could not be returned except by cheers, for the chronometers forbade all unnecessary firing. To Captain Eagleston the squadron is much indebted, and it affords me great pleasure to make my acknowledgments to him for his attentions and assistance rendered the service we were upon. I am also indebted to him for some observations relative to the gales that have occurred among these islands, which will be spoken of in another place.

Captain Eagleston was engaged in taking the biche de mar, sometimes known as the sea-slug. The animal belongs to the genus Holothuria, and the prepared article finds a ready sale in the China market, where it is used as an ingredient in rich soups. Of the biche de mar there are several kinds, some of which are much superior in quality to the others; they are distinguishable both by shape and colour, but more particularly by the latter. One of the inferior kinds is slender and of a dark brown colour, soft to the touch, and leaves a red stain on the hands; another is of a gray colour and speckled; a third is large and dark yellow, with a rough skin and tubercles on its sides.

The second kind is often eaten raw by the natives.

The valuable sorts are six in number: one of a dark red colour; a second is black, from two inches to nine inches in length, and its surface, when cured, resembles crape; a third kind is large and of a dark gray colour, which, when cured, becomes a dirty white; the fourth resembles the third, except in colour, which is a dark brown; the fifth variety is of a dirty white colour, with tubercles on its sides, and retains its colour when cured; the sixth is red, prickly, and of a different shape and larger size than the others; when cured, it becomes dark.

The most esteemed kinds are found on the reefs, in water from one to two fathoms in depth, where they are caught by diving. The inferior sorts are found on reefs which are dry, or nearly so, at low water, where they are picked up by the natives. The natives also fish the biche de mar, on rocky coral bottom, by the light of the moon or of torches, for the animals keep themselves drawn up in holes in the sand or rocks by day, and come forth by night to feed, when they may be taken in great quantities. The motions of the animal resemble those of a caterpillar, and it feeds by suction, drawing in with its food much fine coral and some small shells.

Captain Eagleston stated that the biche de mar is found in greatest abundance on reefs composed of a mixture of sand and coral. The animal is rare on the southern side of any of the islands, and the most

lucrative fisheries are on the northern side, particularly on that of Vanua-levu, between Anganga and Druau. In this place, the most frequent kind is that which resembles crape. In some places the animal multiplies very fast, but there are others where, although ten years have elapsed since they were last fished, none are yet to be found.

The biche de mar requires a large building to dry it in. That erected by Captain Eagleston, on the island of Tavea, is eighty-five feet long, about fifteen or twenty feet wide, and nearly as much in height. The roof has a double pitch, falling on each side of the ridge to eaves which are about five feet from the ground. The roof is well thatched, and ought to be perfectly water-tight. There are usually three doors, one at each end, and one in the middle of one of the sides. Throughout the whole length of the building is a row of double staging, called batters, on which reeds are laid.

On the construction of this staging much of the success of the business depends. It ought to be supported on firm posts, to which the string-pieces should be well secured by lashing. The lower batter is about four feet from the ground, and the upper from two to three feet above it. Their breadth is from twelve to fourteen feet. Upon the large reeds with which the batters are covered is laid the "fish fence," which is made by weaving or tying small cords together. This is composed of many pieces, the height of each of which is equal to the breadth of the batter.

A trench is dug under the whole length of the batters, in which a slow fire is kept up by natives, under the direction of one of the mates of the vessel. The earth from the trench is thrown against the sides of the house, which are at least two or three feet from the nearest batter, in order to prevent accident from fire. This is liable to occur, not only from carelessness, but from design on the part of the natives. As a further precaution, barrels filled with water are placed about eight feet apart along both sides of the batters.

After the house has been in use for about a week, it becomes very liable to take fire, in consequence of the drying and breaking of the material used in the lashings. In this case it is hardly possible to save any part of the building or its contents. To prevent the falling of the stages by the breaking of the lashings, fresh pieces of cordage are always kept at hand to replace those which are charred, and show signs of becoming weak. A constant watch must be kept up night and day, and it requires about fifteen hands to do the ordinary work of a house.

The fires are usually extinguished once in twenty-four hours, and