FIJI ISLANDS. 315 



There being little wind all day, we failed in reaching Mbau 

 on the first day, but arriving in its neighbourhood about dusk, 

 we mistook a projecting headland of Viti Levu,* some miles 

 north of Mbau, for the island of Viwa, and a small island lying 

 off this headland for Mbau. It was impossible to distinguish in 

 the gloom what were islands and what promontories, against the 

 dark background of the Viti Levu coast. 



All around Mbau, Viwa, and the neighbouring coast are 

 extensive shallow coral and mud flats, the mud being brought 

 down by one of the mouths of the Eiver Wai Levu, which opens 

 in the direction of Mbau. After making several attempts to 

 reach the island which we supposed to be Mbau, and constantly 

 grounding on the coral, we anchored in a deep channel between 

 the coral flats for the night. In the early morning we made 

 out Mbau, conspicuous from the white house of the missionary 

 upon its summit, and soon reached it. 



Mbau is a very small island, not more than half a mile in 

 circumference. It consists of a central hill, of about 50 feet 

 elevation, with a flat area at its top, and bounded by steep grass- 

 covered slopes, surrounded by a tract of flat ground. The cen- 

 tral mass is composed of a friable stratified rock, of a greyish or 

 reddish colour. An exactly similar rock composes the main land 

 immediately opposite the island, and the strata there correspond 

 in inclination with those of Mbau. The central mass of the 

 island is thus a small detached fragment left standing by the 

 denuding waves. The passage between the mainland and Mbau 

 is so shallow as to be fordable at high water, and is nearly dry 

 at low water. 



The flat lower part of Mbau which is raised only a few feet 

 above the sea, consists of made ground, built up of blocks of 

 coral, and mud and stones collected from the vicinity at low 

 water, and secured all around against the action of the sea by 

 means of large slabs of a sandstone (said to come from the main 

 island), having been brought in canoes a distance of several 

 miles. These stone slabs are set up on end, so as to form a 

 parapet, and keep the earth from washing clown. The slabs 



* Viti Levu (pronounced Veetee layvoo). Levu means "great." 



Settlers often clip the u, and talk of " Viti lib." 



