BY W. G. WOOLNOUGH. 461 



All the above empty on the southern side of Viti Levu. The 

 only other important streams are, on the north the Ba, and on 

 the west the Nadi. 



The nearest land to the east is the Tonga Group (Friendl}^ 

 Islands), distant about 360 miles. Deep soundings (1445, 1320, 

 1211, 928, 1875, 1397 fathoms respectively) have been obtained 

 between the two groups. No continental rocks have been 

 described in situ from these islands, which are composed of 

 volcanic materials and corals. At Eua (one of the group) Lister* 

 mentions red garnet and tourmaline amongst the volcanic frag- 

 ments and a boulder of " uralitized gabbro." 



To the west are the New Hebrides and New Caledonia, distant 

 about 550 and 900 miles respectively. In both these places con- 

 tinental rocks are extensively developed, as described later. It 

 is the object of the present paper to show that, geologically, Fiji 

 is far more closely related to New Caledonia than to the Friendly 

 Islands. 



iv. — Narrative. 



In December, 1900, Professor David, of the Sydney University, 

 received a letter from Professor Judd pointing out some of the 

 above facts, and suggesting the importance of determining whether 

 the continental rocks above described existed ■i?i situ or were 

 merely enclosures in volcanic rocks, or possibly represented the 

 plutonic reservoirs of a series of enormously denuded volcanoes. 



In Wichmann's paper, the statement is very definitely made 

 that the quartzite and granite of Na Rokorokoyawa are in situ. 

 Wichmann also concludes that Fiji is certainly of continental 

 origin. The paper referred to was not available in Sydney at the 

 time of my departure. 



As Professor David was unable, through pressure of work in 

 connection with the Funafuti Coral Boring Expeditions, to 

 undertake the work himself, he very kindl}' proposed that I, his 

 Demonstrator at the time, should make the expedition. I pro- 

 ceeded to Fiji at the beginning of January, 1901, and spent six 



Q.J.G.S. xlvii., ^^.b^Oetseq. y^^*^^^ ^L/K 



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