v SOLEVU BAY 75 



averaging only -08 mm. in length. A similar-looking rock is 

 exposed at 1,400 feet, which displays felspar-lathes averaging *2 mm. 

 long (sp. gr. 2*9). It belongs to genus 37 of the same olivine 

 class. Here also is assigned an aphanitic basalt, with a few 

 scattered large plagioclase phenocrysts and felspar-lathes averaging 

 15 m. long, which is displayed near the base of the slope. 



I could not satisfy myself as to the presence of tuffs on the 

 slopes of this range. Some fine argillaceous rocks exposed half- 

 way up on either side show no lime and contain no organic 

 remains. One specimen beside me is certainly a disintegrated 

 basic rock. No agglomerates came under my notice. In the 

 absence or rarity of detrital rocks this part of the range resembles 

 the adjacent mountain of Seatura. 



Although olivine-basalts prevail in this part of the Seatovo 

 Range there is great variety in their characters ; and it does not 

 appear possible to explain such a diversity except to assume that 

 we have here an old crateral ridge which has again and again been 

 penetrated by dykes and has since been greatly denuded. We 

 have here one of those singular mountain-ridges that characterise 

 the central portion of the island, but differing in this respect that 

 the submarine tuffs and agglomerates, which there occur on the 

 surface, even in the higher levels, are here absent. 



SOLEVU BAY. There are few localities in the island where so 

 many kinds of basic rocks are displayed as around Solevu Bay. 

 In addition to the prevailing blackish porphyritic basalts and 

 basaltic andesites, there are grey porphyritic basalts, grey non- 

 porphyritic basalts, black basalts with abundant large crystals of 

 olivine, &c., all of which have their distinctive characters. 



This picturesque bay is surrounded by hills. On the west side 

 it is inclosed by the promontory forming the southern extension 

 of the Seatovo range which, culminating in Ulu-i-matua, or the 

 " Head-of-the-Strong " peak, descends at first steeply and then 

 gradually to the coast, where it projects as Vulavulandre Point. 

 On the east side is a broken line of hills, of which Koro-i-rea, the 

 hill known to the natives as the " Town of the Albinos," is the 

 most conspicuous. Beyond it stretches the eastern point of the 

 bay, which the Fijians call " Ua-nguru," that is, " the noise of the 

 waves." On the shores lie the village of Nawaindo, " the running- 

 stream," and the once populous town of Solevu, which has given 

 its name to the bay. Solevu, as its name indicates, is the place 

 of the "great assembly." In the background rises the three- 

 peaked mountain of Koro-tolutolu, " the three towns," which forms 



