149 



CHAPTER IX. 



Number of Islands in the Group — Area of Land 

 — Reefs — Rivers— Navigation — Watersheds 

 — Mountains — Lakes — Taviuni — Rabi — Loma 

 loma — koro — ovalau — levuka. 



The number of islands comprising the Fiji group is 

 over 200, and their aggregate area is estimated at 

 about 7,400 square miles. Viti Levu, the largest 

 island, has an area of about 4,100 square miles, 

 Vanua Levu 2,432, Taviuni 217, and Kadavu 124 

 square miles. The other islands are of small extent, 

 from Koro, 57 square miles, downward. 



Most of them are surrounded with reefs of coral. 

 These reefs are of two kinds, " barrier" and "fring- 

 ing" reefs. Frequently both kinds of reefs maybe 

 seen at the same island, and at one part of its coast. 

 At another part, the reef may be a barrier one, and 

 again at another place a fringing reef. There are 

 numerous deep-water channels through the barrier 

 reefs, and on the inside of these reefs there are several 

 fine harbours, notably those at Suva, Levuka, Savu- 

 savu, &c. There are commodious roadsteads in the 

 group, where ships of the largest size may anchor in 

 safety, and leave with almost any wind. Between the 

 islands, and inside the barrier, there are numerous 

 patches or " heads " of coral, dangerous to strangers, 

 in navigating among them. Still these reefs break the 

 swell of the ocean, and render navigation throughout 

 the group safe, even for open boats in ordinary 

 weather. 



