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the year, the mean temperature being 84*1 (max. 97'6 ; 

 min. 70- S), see table I. At Levuka, in the same year, 

 February was the hottest month, the mean temperature 

 being 82*2 (max. 92"2 ; min. 73'2), see Table II. The 

 ,h<t four months of the year, and the last two, were 

 the warmest at Delanasau, Table III. Table I. shows 

 the mean annual rainfall, temperature, &c, at Dela- 

 nasau for seven years ; but as there are no observations 

 for the same number of years from any other part of 

 the colony, a correct comparison cannot be made. 

 An important fact, indicated by Table II., may be 

 noticed. Previous to, and during 1861-2, the low 

 hills around Levuka were thickly wooded. Since that 

 time the woods have been cut down, and the number 

 of days on which rain falls has been reduced from 256, 

 the average for 1861-2, to 149, the average for 1865-6 

 and 1876-7. It would seem that the number of showers 

 diminished simultaneously with the cutting of the 

 trees. The thick woods afforded shelter to the moun- 

 taineers, who on several occasions appeared in large 

 numbers, and threatened to sack the town and murder 

 the white settlers. These marauders came from 

 Lavoni, in the centre of Ovalau, just across the moun- 

 tains from Levuka ; stole down upon the town ; 

 plundered the goods of the settlers, and then made off 

 into the woods, where it was useless and dangerous to 

 follow them. In consequence of this, the woods in 

 the vicinity of the town were entirely cut down. But 

 it may be remarked, that the average rainfall for the 

 year does not seem to be much affected by the cutting 

 down of the woods. In answer to this, it may be 

 stated that whereas formerly the rain came in gentle 

 showers which sank into the ground and refreshed 

 the vegetation, it now descends in torrents, and runs 



