17 



They would, however , have cheerfully gone beyond 

 the half-way village had they before starting under- 

 stood, they were required to do so. 



At Savu-savu there are extensive boiling springs, 

 which phenomenon, at another place, will be more parti- 

 cularly alluded to. The scenery at this place is beauti- 

 ful and grand, — lofty hills, cloud-capped mountains 

 densely covered with trees, deep dark looking valleys, 

 contracting almost into gorges, — low grass-covered hills 

 which in some places advance and present precipitous 

 terminations to the sea whilst in others they retreat 

 from it, leaving flat beaches between their base and the 

 shore, — groves of cocoa nut, bread fruit, ivi, clllo, vesi, 

 and other trees, all surround a bay which is 12 miles 

 broad at the bottom, 5 at the head, and from 6 to 7 miles 

 deep. In the bay there is a small island 150 feet 

 in height, on the top of which stands a house. This bay 

 is one of the iinest and largest natural harbours in Fiji ; 

 it has deep water close to the shore, is easy of access, 

 whilst the reefs prevent the swell of the ocean from 

 entering it. Several large streams run into Savu- 

 savu bay, which are navigable for large boats of 

 light draught for some distance. 



It is a favourable place for a township ; and, 

 although it has been decided to build the capital of 

 Eijiat Suva in Viti Leva, a large town, from a variety 

 of circumstances, will in all probability be built upon 

 the shores of Savu-savu bay. The two highest parts 

 of the small island in the bay are united at the base 

 by a mangrove swamp, in the centre of which there is 

 a deep pool, probably the crater of an extinct volcano, 

 into which there is a channel for boats. The pool, I 

 have been told on good authority, would make an 

 excellent dry dock, as it only requires the mud to be 



Q2019. B 



