THE CORAL LANDS OF THE PACIFIC. 



We had just a glimpse of the Union Islands, and passed 

 quite close to Savaai, the largest island of the Sainoan Archi- 

 pelago ; and after rounding, a few days later, the whole of the 

 Fiji Group, to the east and south, we arrived off the harbour 

 of Galoa, in the island of Kandavu the port Avhere the Fiji- 

 bound passengers used to leave the 'Frisco steamer for the 

 local communication with Levuka about eight o'clock one 

 fine evening in November. Eocket after rocket was sent up 

 to arouse the inhabitants of that busy centre Kandavu boasts 

 (or perhaps boasted, as no mail-steamers call there now) one 

 very small hotel and three white men's houses but to no pur- 

 pose. They were either fast asleep or had forgotten us. 



' What do these people care,' said Captain Dearborn, ' for 

 the result of our Presidential election, or whether Eussia and 

 England are at peace or war ? Not a cent, sir not a cent !' 



CHAPTEE II. 



THE FIJI GROUP. 



THE island of Kandavu is twenty-five miles long, and through- 

 out its whole length is high and mountainous, except a small 

 part at its centre, near Malatta Bay, which is divided from 

 Galoa Bay by an isthmus of a few miles in width. Galoa Bay 

 itself is a noble harbour towards the south-east, and it is said 

 that the whole of the British navy could safely ride in it ; but 

 of this I have my doubts, knowing from statistics what the 

 British navy comprises. Galoa looked quite busy, as the 

 stately American mail-steamer headed for its exquisitely 

 wooded shores. There was the Australia, a splendid steamer 

 under the British flag, waiting for her New Zealand mails, 

 while H.M.S. Nymplie was not far off. Some native craft 



