Last Monday Captain Knollys started for Suva, in the Governor’s beautiful new barge, which is a very handsome yet simple sixteen-oar boat, built for him in Sydney. It was built on the principle of the landlord who charged one of the Georges a guinea for a fresh egg,—not because eggs were scarce, but because kings are so. In this instance Fijian governors are scarce; and so, having ordered a boat worth about £300, Sir Arthur is justly indignant at receiving one charged £750, and apparently he can get no redress. Rather too hard, considering how scarce money is in this colony. The barge returned last night, bringing Sir Arthur and Lady Gordon and the children, who look all the better for their change of air. This house is really beginning to look quite cosy and home-like, and we all quite enjoy coming back to it from our various wanderings. Nevertheless I am already preparing for another start, as Captain Knollys offers me the loan of his nice new boat (his yacht, we call it); and it seems a good opportunity of paying my long-talked-of visit to Mrs Leefe at Nananu. So, if all is well, my next letter will be from her house. * * * * * WAR LETTER. NASOVA, _September 12, 1876_. DEAR GEORGE,—You ask for some details of the war with the mountain tribes. I wish you were here to hear about it yourself from Captain Knollys and Dr Macgregor, who have been giving me most thrilling accounts of some of their adventures. Mr Gordon got through his work sooner than the others, and returned here on the 3d of July, apparently in perfect health, and in very high spirits. He then returned to the seat of war, and joined Captain Knollys in the mountains, where they had some very rough and exhausting work in routing the enemy out of caves where they had taken refuge. This was satisfactorily done, and then, what with bad and insufficient food, and exposure, Mr Gordon utterly broke down: he had to be carried all the way to the coast,—four days’ very difficult march up and down steep mountain-paths, crossing and recrossing rivers and streams, and enduring great hardships. On the second day they were compelled to march thirty-six miles, and had to cross streams thirty-one times, &c., the Singatoko river eighteen times, and another stream thirteen times,—very exhausting and difficult work. At last a small steamer arrived to bring back the troops; and so he was brought here, and has ever since been very dangerously ill with low typhoid fever. However, he is now beginning to mend, and we hope ere long to see him as well as ever.