Islands and Coral-reefs of the Fiji Group. 233 



j^roup. Starting from Suva, after visiting Mbenga we went 

 to Ovalau, Wakaya, Makongai, Koro, skirted along the 

 western shore of Taviuni, examined the north-eastern coast of 

 the same island, passed through the Matangi passage to Motua 

 Levu and Motua Lailai, skirted along the western extremity 

 of the Nanuku reefs. From there we steamed to Wailanga- 

 lala, where we landed our boring-apparatus and the crew 

 needed for working the same. We then turned north, passing 

 close to Nuku Mbesanga and Adolphus reef, and entered 

 Ngele Levu Lagoon. Wenext examined the Ringgold Islands, 

 paying special attention to Thombia, an extinct crater in Budd 

 reef. From there we returned to our former anchorage off 

 Thurston Point in Taviuni, and followed our old track back 

 to Wailangalala, where we found our boring party settled and 

 at work. We then steamed south, examining Williamson 

 reef, the Kimbombo islets, Bell reef, and entered the Vanua 

 Mbalavu Lagoon through the Ngillangillah passage, leaving 

 the lagoon by the Tonga pass. VVe touched at Mango, 

 Tavutha, Naiau, and Lakemba, passed Aiwa, entered the 

 Oneata Lagoon, visited Thakau Lekaleka, touched at Motha, 

 entered the Komo Lagoon, the Yangasa cluster, and the 

 Ongea Lagoon. We passed Fulanga, close to the entrance, 

 which was too shallow to allow our vessel to enter, but near 

 enough to give an excellent idea of its characteristic structure. 

 We next touched at Kambara, anchored in the crater of 

 Totoya, stopped at Moala ; from there we made Solo 

 Lighthouse, examined the North Astrolabe reef, steamed 

 through the Great Astrolabe reef, coming out west of 

 Ono. We next examined a part of the shore of Kandavu, 

 and returned to Suva by way of Vatu Leile. On our second 

 trip we visited Ngau, Nairai, the Horseshoe reef, Mbatiki, 

 and entering the Moturiki Channel south of Ovalau, examined 

 the barrier reef between it and Suva as far as Mbau. After 

 our return to Suva we made a third trip along the southern 

 coast of Viti Levu as far as Naudronga; skirting the reef as 

 closely as was prudent, we were able to follow the changes in 

 the Great Barrier reef of Viti Levu west of Suva as it 

 gradually passes into a fringing reef and disappears off the 

 Singatoka River, to appear again first as a fringing reef and 

 then as a barrier reef extending beyond the Nandi waters 

 to the west of Naudronga. We then paid a second visit to 

 Vatu Leile and returned to Suva, having steamed a little over 

 1300 miles. 



I came to Fiji under the impression that we were to visit a 

 characteristic area of subsidence, for, according to Dana and 

 Darwin, there is no coral-reef region in which it is a simpler 

 Ann. (k Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 7. Vol. i. 18 



