33 



yards broad, and descending into the Navua, which we 

 forded on a spit of sand and gravel a yard in breadth 

 at the top, and with 3^ feet of water upon it. This 

 spit is thrown across the Navua by the current of 

 water which its tributary brings down and which at 

 this point enters the main stream at right angles. It 

 was remarked at this place, that the channels of both 

 rivers had been worn down through a coarse grained 

 sedimentary rock which rose in steep crags to a height 

 of 300 feet above the water. Here the Navua is from 

 25 to 30 yards in width, and at the head of the rapids, 

 where w^e forded it, the water was sometimes 3 feet 

 deep and very clear. The route now followed the 

 bed of the river, crossing it three times within the 

 next three miles. This was necessary in order to avoid 

 climbing steep banks at places where the river by, 

 taking a sudden bend strikes into their sides, leaving 

 no space for a path between them and the water. 



Nukusari is a small village on the left bank of the 

 river. By the people of the Namosi tribe it is used as 

 a resting place between the coast and the interior. We 

 left it next morning, and fording the Navua and a 

 tributary stream five times, we arrived at Koro Wai-wai 

 about 4 p.m. At Nakusari I had a slight attack of 

 Mauritius fever during the night, and next day 

 in fording the river for the first time, I felt quite 

 giddy when in the middle of the stream, but calling the 

 guide to take my hand I arrived safely on the other 

 side. The water w^as nearly 3 feet deep at this place and 

 running rapidly, and the bed of the river was covered 

 with loose stones which frequently rolled from under 

 the feet. The depth of the water and the strength 

 of the current rendered it dangerous to lift the feet ; but 

 with the aid of a stick and pushing one's foot forward 

 a few inches at a time, the river w r as safely forded. 



Q 2019. c 



