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kind. The position chosen for a fort was naturally a 

 strong one, and, where art was called in for its aid, it 

 was easily made impregnable to the modes of warfare 

 practised by the old Fijians. They were generally 

 well supplied with provisions, and also with water from 

 frequent showers. Within a few of them there 

 were springs of water and even ground for growing 

 bananas, — plantations of which still remain. For the 

 last 7 miles to Vienunga, where we arrived about 

 5 p.m., the path was a well made one and led through 

 virgin forests. The country passed through from Koro 

 Wai-wai was very hilly. Rocks of a sedimentary 

 character were most numerous, but volcanic breccia 

 and basalt were also occasionally seen. Up to our 

 arrival in the vicinity of Vienunga most of the land 

 had been cultivated at one time, and then, in accord- 

 ance with the custom of the country, allowed to rest 

 and to become overgrown with scrub and reeds. 

 The soil was seen to be of good quality and suitable 

 for growing coffee and tea. 



Vienunga is a large and clean village on the banks 

 of a small river which falls into the Navua. As a 

 rule the villages in Fiji are built on the banks of 

 rivers and large streams ; always near water. This 

 village is situated in the centre of the forest which 

 extends for miles round it in all directions. A portion 

 of this forest is felled annually, and the land turned 

 into plantations for growing yams, dalo, bananas, &c. 

 We stayed here several days and had long rambles in 

 the forests, in which several new plants were found. 

 These forests are well stocked with timber trees, 

 especially the damanu, which is one of the best and 

 most useful woods to be found in Fiji. It is a pity 

 to see so much timber wasted here ; fine trees are felled 



