THE RE IVA.LET FIJI FLOURISH. 209 



who may examine the layers of an ancient marine bed now 

 elevated about 400 feet above the level of the sea ; and abut- 

 ting against mountain masses of breccia and conglomerate, 

 consisting of fragments of close-grained primary lavas, ce- 

 mented together by minute detritus of the same materials. 



' At Navuso, the junction of the Wai Manu, the banks of the 

 Eewa exhibit a rich ferruginous sandy basis, with a fine allu- 

 vial surface 4 to 5 feet in depth. The river runs at first nearly 

 due north from Xavuso to Kasavu, a distance of about 3 

 miles ; then winds suddenly westward, Ban lying to the north- 

 east. The banks on the right hand then passed rather 

 abruptly into rude hilly country. Continuing our course from 

 Xavuso, we noticed a few beautiful Xiusawa trees (a species 

 of areca) growing on the point opposite Xakandi, and every 

 reach onwards from this exhibited more loveliness and pic- 

 turesque effect. Xaitasiri opened when we rounded a richly- 

 wooded point of the river, called Wai-ni-Kumi, literally 

 ' Water of the Beard.' A superstition connected with it exists 

 among the people, that beardless boys may expedite the 

 growth of their beard by bathing the chin in the water drip- 

 ping from the rocks. The latter were of a sedimentary for- 

 mation, presenting a nearly vertical face, over Avhich a small 

 stream of water was rushing down. This stream might pos- 

 sibly then be much augmented after heavy rains ; but it is 

 the only approach to a waterfall occurring in the district. 

 Eich foliage, embowered Avith creeping plants, beauteous trees, 

 ferns, and Niu Saica trees everywhere met the eye. All the 

 intervening spaces, but more especially the immediate banks 

 of the river, are covered with tall grass and humbler herbage. 

 The river gradually narrows from Wai-ni-Kumi towards Xaita- 

 siri, but widens out again at the latter place, the left bank in 

 particular rising to a considerable height.' 



14 



