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eastern and the other on the western side. Prom 

 these ranges there are many offsets, which again throw 

 off numerous spurs and crags. The scenery is conse- 

 quently varied ; narrow gorges with valleys opening 

 in into other valleys many times repeated. The 

 central or Lavoni valley, dividing the mountain 

 ran ires, runs north and south. The mountains rise in 

 almost perpendicular cliffs on "both sides, hut their 

 elevation diminishes towards the ends of the valley. 

 The valley opens out on the west side towards Bureta, 

 from which it is entered between two precipices, from 

 three to four hundred feet in height, and about 200 

 yards apart. The Lavoni valley, seen from an emi- 

 nence, is one of the loveliest in Fiji. From about 

 1,000 feet above the sea, to their summits, the moun- 

 tains are covered with wood. Ovalau is well watered. 

 In the bottom of every valley there is a streamlet, 

 which, in ordinary seasons, flows throughout the year. 

 The scenery is very beautiful in many places, but is 

 not on such an extensive and varied scale as in some 

 of the larger islands. 



Levuka, the present capital of Fiji, is situated on 

 the cast !!-n side of the island. It is a straggling town 

 of one principal street, which, extending along the 

 beach almost at high-water level, is bordered on one 

 side by the sea. In this street are the shops, mer- 

 chants' offices, stores, &c. These occupy nearly all 

 the level ground. The dwelling-houses are perched 

 upon the rocky mountain side above the town, and 

 are approached by steep winding paths, over rocky 

 slopes, or by stair-like ascents. A worse situation 

 could not be chosen for a town. Indeed, except its 

 central position i<> other parts of the group, it has 

 nothing to recommend it. 



