274 



CHAPTEE XVI. 



GENERAL REMARKS ON THE ASPECT, CLIMATE, SOIL, AND VEGETATION OF 



FIJI. COLONIAL PRODUCE. STAPLE FOOD. EDIBLE ROOTS. KITCHEN 



VEGETABLES. EDIBLE FRUITS. NATIONAL BEVERAGES. KAVA. 



VITI, or Fiji, is an archipelago in the South Pacific 

 Ocean, midway between the Tongan islands and the 

 French colony of New Caledonia, having, according to 

 Dr. Petermann's recent calculations, a superficial area 

 equal to that of Wales, or eight times that of the Ionian 

 Islands. The exact number of islands and islets com- 

 prising it is merely approximately known, only a partial 

 hydrographical survey of the whole group having as yet 

 been made ; 230 would probably be rather below than 

 above the number. Viti Levu, Kadavu, Vanua Levu, 

 and Taviuni, are of primary, Kabe, Koro, Gau, and Ova- 

 lau, of secondary, magnitude. Situated between lati- 

 tudes 19 47' S. and 15 47' S., and longitudes 180 8' W. 

 and 17650 / E., the climate is tropical, but the heat 

 is moderated, in the winter season by the south-east, in 

 the summer by the north-east trade-wind. 62 Fahr. is 

 the lowest temperature observed in Lakeba by Mr. Wil- 

 liams, in Kadavu by Mr. Royce ; but, though the mean 

 temperature of the whole group may be stated to be 

 80 Fahr., the thermometer has been known to rise to 



