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126 A BOTANICAL TOUR AMONG THE SOUTH SEA ISLANDS.
with the heavy dews at night and frequent showers, hecomes extraordinarily
fertile. Indeed, thi-oughout my rambjes in the Fijis I did not meet with an
acre of land that might not be cultivated. The soil everywhere is covered
with a dense mass of vegetation. During my ascent up the river I called upon
several of the settlers, whom I found to be exceedingly kind, and through
whose plantations I had the pleasure of walking.
With regard to cotton-growing upon the Rewa, -I should think that it
would be less remunerative tlian sugar ; the lieavy dews at night and the
frequent showers occuri'ing nearly every other day, cannot benefit cotton,
especialh' during the season for gathering. On the other hand, sugar-cane
is benefited by the rich soil and constant moisture. Perhaps it will be considered
an exaggeration by some, but I was informed that it is by no means
uncommon to see Sugar-cane growing to twenty-five feet in height. I myself
measured a cane in Ovalau which was exactly twenty-two feet in length. In
the windward islands, or close to the coast on the big lands, I have no doubt
that cotton will pay the planter much better than sugar would at present.
Through the rich green mantle spread over hill and valley, on either side of
tlais most delightful river, the Palms and Tree-ferns first catch the eye. The
graceful Cocoa-palm is not to be seen, but its loss is compensated for by Kentia
exorrliiza \_VeitcMa,— Ed.], and the beautiful Pritchardia Pacifica. The
Cocoa-nut will seldom grow well far away from the sea, although in the island
of Vate, one of the " New Hebrides," I found several fine specimens in a village
about nine miles from the coast. Next in importance, the eye nmst rest upon
the bouquet-Uke display of colour of certain flowers and foliage. The bright
scarlet flowers of 'Eryihrina Indica are often rendered still more brilliant by
a mass of golden-yellow— the dying foliage of Evea dulcis, or the flowers of
Taritium tiliaceum— tlie latter perhaps backed up by the dark beautiful green
of a Calophyllum, a Barringtonia, or an Inocarpiis. And by the side of
Sapindtis pinnafa, witli its fiery red shoots resembling spikes of flowers in the
distance,—that finest of all tropical foliage when unbroken by the wind,—the
Plantain's large grassy-green leaf often presents a charming contrast, especially
when laden witli its dense clusters of orange-coloured fruit. This gorgeous
display of colour is rendered stiU more magnificent by the sombre green and
purple tints of the distant hills and mountains in the background. Such is
the landscape, and could anything be more beautiful ? But a few hours cannot
suffice to examine all the treasures beneath those gorgeous canopies. A
hurried glance was my lot in\ places where I would have sacrificed much to
have been able to remain for a day—nay, half a one.
In moist places, a short distance in from the banks of the river, such plants
as Coix Lachrima, a Canna, an Arundinaria, a Tradescantia, Vigna lutea,
Smilax, several species of Ipomoea, Clerodendron inerme, Dracaenas, Crotons,
Crinums, Allocasia, Blelia., Angiopteris, Alsophila, Acrostichum, etc. etc.,
are to be found in such exuberance, aided by the constant moisture, as to be
almost impenetrable. In isolated spots, Bioscorea alata (Yam), Jatropha
Manlhot, and Ipionioea Batatas (Sweet Potato), are to be found in cultivated
patches. I must say that even the wild Fijian teaches a lesson as regards the