trembling, however; for it is not pleasant to know that these tribes are still cannibals. Sir Arthur also went himself to the camp at Nasauthoko, where Captain Knollys and his native police have their headquarters. * * * * * NASOVA, _June 9_. We had a very curious ceremony here this afternoon. A large body of our wild allies have arrived here from Bau on their way to Viti Levu, and to-day they came here to report themselves to Sir Arthur, and indulged in a little _bole bole_, which is a form of ceremonial boasting, to describe the great deeds of prowess they purpose to perform in the war. They are a magnificent body of men; and as they advanced, with blackened faces and kilts of long black water-weed like horse-hair, and streamers of white _masi_ floating from their arms and knees, brandishing their old Tower muskets, which replace the club of old days, they certainly did look most alarming. They performed a very striking “devil _méké_,” with wild attitudinising, ending with such unearthly yells as would really have made your blood run cold to hear, and were very suggestive of what these people must have been in old heathen days. When the wild men had received their gift of whales’ teeth, and had gone off to feast on turtle and pig, we went on board H.M.S. Pearl, which sailed into harbour under full canvas on Monday evening just at sunset. The last time she left this harbour was on the ill-fated expedition to Santa Cruz. It is not yet a year since I left Commodore Goodenough’s hospitable roof, and watched the Pearl sail out of Sydney harbour, bringing Sir Arthur to begin the new life in Fiji. Then came her awful return. Now we hear that she has been the scene of a series of brilliant balls, given by Commodore Hoskyns at Sydney. Verily changes are rapid! It was a great pleasure again to meet Captain Hastings and other friends. Dr Messer has been too ill to come ashore, but to-day he showed me some very interesting sketches of the New Hebrides idols, and other things. In the absence of its new occupant, we ventured to enter the cabin in which the sailor-martyr died—holy ground indeed. The Pearl sails again to-morrow. I have just been to see Mrs Macgregor. Both she and Mrs Garrick are very seriously ill from frightfully ulcerated sore-throat. Captain Stewart, R. E., has a sharp attack of fever; and Mr Lake has just been invalided to New Zealand. Sir William Hackett is quite laid up, and looks very ill indeed; Nevil, too, is very feverish. Altogether we are not in a very flourishing condition.