150 



The islands lie in small groups of several together. 

 In some places the water is so deep that vessels of 

 GOO tons can be moored to the shore; while in 

 other parts of the same island, the water is so shallow 

 that a ship cannot get within several miles of the 

 shore. 



Most of the islands are high and mountainous, 

 rising abruptly from the sea as if they were the 

 mountain tops of a submerged continent, or large 

 island. The mountains of Taviuni, Vanua Levu, Viti 

 Lcvu, and Kadavu rise to an elevation of 3,000 feet 

 above the level of the sea. In none of the other 

 islands do they much exceed a height of 2,000 feet. 

 There is very little level land in any part of Fiji. 

 Hills and lovely valleys follow in rapid succession, 

 From the shore to the interior. Lofty peaks rise in a 

 succession of precipitous ascents, one after another, 

 sending off numerous spurs, which again subdivide 

 and ramify in a manner that defies description. 



In many instances the sources of streams overlap 

 each other, and the waters from parallel valleys find 

 their way to the sea in opposite directions. Near 

 Namosi, a stone, dropped from where the Wai-Dina 

 rises, would fall into the waters of one of the prin- 

 cipal branches of the Xavua river, which at this place 

 is a rapid stream 30 feet broad and 2 feet deep. 



At a place near Nadrau, a similar thing occurs, 

 viz., from where the Wai ni Mala rises a stone could be 

 thrown into the Siga Toka river. In Lavoni valley, 

 Ovalau, two large streams from opposite directions 

 unite and flow off at a right angle to their former 

 course. Many more instances might be given, but 

 these will Mifilce to show the complications of the 

 watersheds in Fiji. 



