272 FIJI ISLANDS. 



in one of the ship's boats, called the barge, to the Island of 

 Mbau, and the ^Vai Levu, with a party which was to join the 

 ship again at Kandavu. 



As there was little wind all day, we failed in reaching Mbau 

 on the first day, but on 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 River Wai Levu, which 

 opens in the direction of Mbau. After making several attempts 

 to reach the island which we supposed to be Mbau, and con- 

 stantly grounding on the coral, we anchored for the night, in a 

 deep channel between the coral flats. 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), which has 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 down. The 

 slabs project far above the level of the land surface, and thus 

 form at the same time a sort of fence or wall. At intervals, 

 openings are left in the parapet, where the water flows up short 

 channels into the area of made ground, and allows canoes to 

 put in at high water into small harbours as it were. 



* Viti Levu (pronounced Veetee layvoo).. Levu means "j^ieat.' 

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



