1G8 



This raised beach varies in width from a few yards to 

 nearly a mile, and rises from sea-level to 100 feet in 

 height. At Mr. Chippendale's estate near Wai Levu, 

 Savu-savu hay, the coral heach has heen raised about 

 30 feet above the sea, and is now covered with soil to 

 a depth of 9 or 10 feet. A gentleman in sinking a 

 well on his property on the Tai Levu coast, about a 

 mile from the sea, found several fine sea shells at a 

 depth of about 11 feet below the surface. 



In many parts of Fiji, even on the tops of the high 

 mountains in both the large islands, blocks of coral 

 or coralline limestone may be seen lying about, where 

 nothing remains but agglomerate, or basaltic rocks. 



Taviuni is the only island of the group that I 

 visited of a purely volcanic origin, and it would seem 

 also to be a more recent formation than the others. 

 It is entirely composed of scoria, tufa, and basalt, like 

 Mauritius, Samoa, and the Sandwich islands. As 

 already noticed, there are several craters of extinct 

 volcanoes upon the island. This island has been 

 formed above water. 



Symptoms of upheavals due to volcanic action, or 

 perhaps to earthquakes, are not wanting in Fiji, and 

 the hot springs are proof that great subterraneous 

 heat still exists below these islands. Unlike Taviuni, 

 the other islands have been formed under water, before 

 being upheaved. That they have been under water 

 before liny assumed their present form, is undoubted. 

 In some parts of Viti Levu, and particularly in the 

 centre of Y.uni.i Levu, there arc indications, on the 

 surface, of the soil having been exposed to great heat. 

 Si ill. throughout these islands, there is an absence of 

 what openly appears to have been the craters of active 

 volcanoes, since the upheaval of the land. 



