2i 4 THE CORAL LANDS OF THE PACIFIC. 



across a good-sized bay, which affords a harbour for ships of 

 very large tonnage. 



Olosenga is a very rocky island, about 1500 feet in height, 

 and precipitous on every side. The principal village is 

 situated on a strip of land in front of this precipice. It was 

 1\ miles from the eastern point of this island that 

 the subaqueous eruption of I860 took place, which is men- 

 tioned in an earlier chapter. Olosenga is '2 miles to the 

 west of Upolu, and is encircled by a reef. One of the 

 features of Olosenga is a precipice 1200 feet in height. 



Manono is nearly triangular in shape, and less than 5 

 miles in circumference. It has a mountain a few hundred feet 

 in height, from which a splendid panoramic view of Upolu 

 and Savaii can be obtained. Its population may be set down 

 at about a thousand. 



Tutuila is the easternmost and smallest of the three principal 

 islands, with a length of 17 miles and a width of 5. The 

 land is mountainous, forming here and there lofty peaks, the 

 highest of which Matafae is 2327 feet above sea-level, and 

 forms an admirable landmark for the excellent harbour of 

 Pango-Pango. I will describe it in the words of Captain 

 Wakeman, who was sent by Mr. W. H. "Webb of New York 

 (who at one time ran the ( San Francisco and Sydney mail 

 boats) to report on its advantages as a coaling depot : 



'At daylight I found myself in the most perfect land- 

 locked harbour that exists in the Pacific Ocean. In approach- 

 ing this harbour from the south, either by night or day, the 

 mariner has unmistakable landmarks to conduct him into port 

 on the port-hand, a high-peaked conical mountain 2327 feet 

 high ; and on the starboard-hand, a flat-topped mountain 1470 

 feet in height. These landmarks can never be mistaken by 

 the mariner. The entrance to the harbour is three-quarters of 



