south of Cape Race, for there will be icebergs on that route in a season like this until the end of September. Even as a general rule icebergs are encountered on both routes throughout the summer and autumn months.

The connection with which it is remarked that the line have lost four vessels, would lead any one ignorant of the facts under the impression that they were lost on the north route, whereas the Canadian was the only one lost there. Passengers who are used to this route prefer it on account of its being a short oversea passage; the distance from Tory, in Ireland, to Belle Isle, being only 1,640 miles; and as the rest of the passage is generally made in smooth water, there is less suffering from sea sickness than on the longer oversea passage to America.

The Belle Isle route when free from field ice is preferred by all the commanders of the Canadian Line on account of its safety, the time saved being a secondary consideration. You refer to them as com. manders not overburthened with discretion, because they hold and act on their own opinions. Why should they not? Leaving their responsibility out of the question, can you point out any others' upon whom they can rely as having greater practical knowledge and experience of these routes? Until you have done so the term indiscretion is not applicable to their professional character.

MORE ABOUT THE FEEJEES.-By B. Seeman, Ph. D.

The Feejee Islands are likely not only from the importance of their position but also from their extent and great resources, to become more intimately known to us hereafter than they are at present. We therefore gladly seize all opportunity for preserving accounts of them for our readers. Mr. B. Seeman's narrative of an excursion to one of the mountains which they contain forms an important addition to his last, and we therefore have no hesitation in borrowing it from the Athenæum.

On the north-west point of the island of Kadavu, rises a mountain, nearly 4,000 feet high, which, from a certain resemblance to the hillocks on which yams are planted, is termed Buke Levu, or the Large Yam Hill. No white man had ever ascended it, and though laid down in the latest maps, its very name is not recorded. We had on two occasions made attempts to reach the summit, but were baffled by gales and rain. However, when Mr. Pritchard and I were at Bega, the fine weather induced us to steer once more for Kadavu, and, sailing

all night, daybreak disclosed the bold, dome-shaped outline of Buke Levu.

On bringing our little schooner to anchor off Talaulia, heavy showers overtook us, and we began to despair of ever attaining our object, when, about nine o'clock, it suddenly cleared up. The natives, who had watched from the beach, could not understand our hesitation in not landing at once, and in proof that they were friendly disposed, brought out their women and children, and, moreover, carried green boughs, as the troops do in Macbeth when "Birnam wood removes to Dunsinane." On learning our object in coming, fifteen men and boys cheerfully volunteered to accompany us. The ascent commenced the moment we left Talaulia, and passing over cultivated grounds where the people were busily engaged with their crops of sugar-cane, yams, taros, and plantains, we reached, in about a quarter of an hour, a village, where another party of natives joined us, and where we saw some fine plants of the different kinds of kava, for which Kadavu is renowned.

A narrow path, often winding along precipices and through rivulets, led to about 1,500 feet elevation, when it gradually faded away, and the isolated patches of cultivation noticed up to this height, as well as the wood which had re-occupied ground at one time cleared, gave place to an undisturbed virgin forest; through which we had to cut our way. We had taken the precaution of bringing a strong rope, sixty feet long, which, made fast to trees, proved extremely useful in dragging ourselves up almost perpendicular rocks, in the rainy season occupied by waterfalls, and even at this time of the year very slippery. On some of them were found a number of delicate ferns (Hymenophyllum), and quite a new species of landshell (Bulimus), fully two inches long, and of a bright salmon colour. In order to save time we had directed one of our men to push ahead and prepare a camp-kettle full of tea. When, at last, after great exertion and frequent stopping to examine objects of interest, we reached the top, he and half a dozen others were already there, but they had omitted to bring either matches, firesticks, or water, and even the cocoanuts, packed up with the rest of the day's provisions, were too old for drinking. Being exceedingly thirsty, we could not touch food, hungry though we were. The natives declared the nearest water to be more than 1,000 feet down, and as they had not the proper wood it was impossible for them to kindle fire by friction. However, a man must have read Robinson Crusoe to little purpose if his resources fail him in moments like these.

We were determined not to let our explorations come to a sudden stop for want of something to drink. Mr. Pritchard left me the option between procuring fire or water; to guard against lame excuses on the part of the natives, it was thought necessary that one of us should go with them in search of a spring. Knowing what a hard job it was to make a fire by rubbing, without pausing, two pieces of wood together, especially in the tropics, I declared in favour of getting the water. My companion, who did not seem to relish descending so

many feet and climbing up again, was evidently pleased with his lot. In spite of all the natives were saying about making the wood answer, he resolutely began rubbing away. Great exertions were required; hat, jacket, vest, and neck-tie discarded to give greater freedom to action. At last came the reward; the wood began to smoke, sparks appeared, went out again, re-appeared, and brought in contact with a piece of bark cloth cut off the tail of a boy's dress, soon produced a flame. All this time I had been sitting on an old stump, feigning to be quite insensible to certain hints about the desirableness of looking after the execution of my part of the contract. When the first flame had appeared I at last bestirred myself, and, to the surprise of the fire kindler, instead of going a long way for water, climbed up a neighbouring tree on which I had noticed an epiphytical plant (Astelia), the leaves of which acting as a kind of rain-gauge, were filled with pure water. By merely emptying these the necessary supply was obtained; ere long tea was ready, and relished all the more from recalling to mind the long established connection between cups, slips, and lips.

After all hands had partaken of the refreshment, a number of trees were felled, in order to gain, if possible, a view, the top of the mountain being densely wooded. No sooner had this been accomplished, than, to our joy, the clouds, which up to this time had been interposed between us and the region below, dispersed, disclosing a great part of Kadavu and the sea. Our little schooner was snugly lying at anchor, flying the British colours; but we listened in vain for the signal guns, which the men had been directed to fire as soon as they should perceive the smoke of our fire. We afterwards learnt that it had been found impossible to distinguish between smoke and clouds. A large native canoe, with its triangular sail, was seen approaching the shores, and the blasts of the conch-shells could be heard distinctly, though we were nearly 4,000 feet high. Otherwise there was a deep silence, only occasionally broken by the dogs which have become naturalized in these wilds, as the domestic fowls have in other parts of the group. The vegetation encountered was similar to that of Voma Peak in Viti Levu; there were the same scarlet orchids and epiphytical ferns, but also several new species of plants. The Cinnamomum, furnishing a superior Cassia bark, was here as plentiful as in Great Feejee; a kind of Gummi Gutti tree also engaged our attention. Buke Levu is evidently an extinct volcano, and the hot springs at its foot may possibly stand in some connexion with the cause of its former activity. There is a swamp at the top; but we did not discover any large crater.

Having left on one of the trees a bottle containing a record of our visit, we commenced the descent, which presented in some parts serious difficulties; but, thanks to our rope, we overcame them all, only one of the lads having a serious tumble, by which he sprained his ankle. Before we were more than half way down it was completely dark, when the natives lit bundles of reeds and the stems of an Erigeron, both of which made excellent torches. On arriving at the first grove of cocoanut palms, a general halt was made, and heaps of nuts were brought down from the trees and emptied of their contents with asto

rishing rapidity. It was past nine o'clock, just twelve hours after we started, when we reached Talaulia, where the whole village was assembled at the house of the teacher, and our native companions gave a circumstantial account of our day's proceedings.

Early next morning every one who had accompanied us received a butcher's knife, which elicited much clapping of hands in proof that the gift was acceptable. Money would not have pleased half as much, as its use is not yet understood. All payments are made in kind,—a most irksome and cumbrous way, compelling you to carry a whole heap of things to defray the current expenses of a cruize. Articles regarded as small change, and making one look like a pedlar, you are supposed to have always about you. In one pocket you carry pipes and tobacco-in great demand, but held rather cheap; in another fishhooks, jews'-harps, and beads, the spare room to be filled up with scissors and knives of various descriptions. Your gold and bank notes, represented by bales of Manchester print, especially navy blue, flannel jackets, and woollen blankets-killing the natives faster than brandy and the so called vices of civilization, and American hatchets, price five dollars a piece, are kept on board. The inconvenience and expense of paying for everything by articles of barter, is increased by some of the goods not proving acceptable in all towns, and the natives refusing certain things because they happen to differ in some unimportant trifle from those generally in use. Knives, with white handles intsead of black, would be objected to, though their blades might be first rate; and I learned, to my cost, that it is absolutely useless to lay in stock at Sydney unless one obtains exact information regarding the articles in demand.

On leaving Talaulia, we steered eastwards, passing Yawe, famous for its manufacture of large earthenware pots, made without a wheel, in order to bid farewell to Mr. Royce, the principal missionary at Tavuki, under whose hospitable roof we had previously stayed. Tavuki, from being made the centre of the mission of the district, may be regarded as the capital of Kadavu and its dependencies. The island of Kadavu, of which so little is known, is hilly and highly cultivated; its population, said to number 10,000, is a mixture between the Feejeeans and Tonguese races, all of whom, with the exception of seven individuals, have nominally become Christians. The island is twenty-five miles long, stretching from east to west, and being contracted about the centre into the narrow isthmus of Yarabale, literally "Haulacross," from the fact of canoes and boats being dragged across it, in order to save the trouble and escape the danger of a long passage around either the east or west point. We crossed there on a previous occasion, and found the northern portion of the passage a fine avenue of cocoanut palms, the southern more or less a mangrove swamp. A similar short cut for canoes is effected in Vanua Levu.

On both sides of the isthmus of Yarabale, there is a bay; the northern, Na Malata, is shallow and open; the southern, Ga Loa, has deep water, good anchorage, and three passages through the reef outside, The different surveying expeditions having quite overlooked NO. 9.-VOL. XXX.

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this fine bay, Mr. Pritchard made a rough survey in 1858, it being not improbable that if the much discussed communication between Sydney and Western America should be established viâ Feejee, steamers would prefer calling at this southernmost bay, with plenty of sea-room outside, than run the risk of entering the labyrinth of reefs, shoals, and rocks which render the navigation of the central part of the group rather difficult. There are three islands; the largest, 200 feet high, about a mile long, and half a mile across, is termed Ga Loa, (Black Duck,) aud confers its name on the bay. It is full of fruit trees, and pointed out as the spot where, only a twelvemonth ago, a man was baked and eaten. Cannibalism in Ferjee will soon number amongst the things that have been. The influence of all the whites residing in or visiting the group is steadily directed towards its extinction; and although a missionary has asserted in print that he had been told some of the white residents were habitual partakers of human flesh, I think, for the honour of our race, such second-hand stories ought to be indignantly rejected. Antiquaries know that cannibalism of a certain form lingered in Europe long after the Reformation; that mummies, thought to be Egyptian, were extensively used medicinally; and that only after it was found out people had not partaken of the contemporaries of Thothmes the First or Rameses the Great, but of bitumenized portions of their own fellow countrymen, this precious medecine fell into absolute disuse. Even in our own times we may still meet in certain parts of Europe people doing what has been recorded with horror of the Feejeean-that of drinking the living blood of man; but, mark! with this essential difference, that the former do it in hopes of thereby curing fits of epilepsy, whilst the latter did it to gratify revenge and exult over fallen enemies. As for an European, even of the lowest grade, coolly sitting down to a regular cannibal feast, the idea is too preposterous to have ever been allowed to disgrace the pages of a modern publication.

Taudromu, another of the islands in Ga Loa Bay, scarcely half a mile around, now belongs to an American Indian of real flesh and blood, and in former times was inhabited by Ratu va caki, a mighty spirit, who, with his sons, all, like their father, of prepossessing appearance, and bearing poetical names, seem to have played the same part in Feejee as the Erl-King and his daughters did in Europe. Many are the stories told of their deeds and adventures. Generally they used to go out together; but if Ratu va caki was disinclined, the boys, who, young rascals! had as keen an appreciation of a pretty face and good figure as their old rake of a father, would go out by themselves, principally moving about in heavy squalls and gales-hence their invisible canoe was termed Loaloa; and if soon after stormy weather any fine young girls suddenly died, it was proverbially said that Ratu va caki and his sons had enticed them away. However, poetical justice was done at last. One day, when all were at Yanuca, near Bega, their presence, notwithstanding their having assumed human shape, was discovered by the local god, who rightly guessed their intentions. When they were performing a dance, and all the girls were admiringly