1266 AUSTRALASIA ILLUSTRATED. 



that enterprising colonists have at various times experienced from this cause have led 

 to a certain feeling of diffidence in the possibilities of the country. Fiji is now at what 

 seems to be its lowest ebb, and any change will probably be a change for the better. 

 There can be no doubt that it is a country of splendid capabilities, but a heavy cloud 

 of commercial depression at present rests upon it. This will without doubt pass away in 

 due course ; but whatever the future of the colony may be, the demand for native 

 labour must stand in the way of the formation of a large white population. 



THE SAMOAN GROUP. 



" I "HIS large Group is situated between the parallels of thirteen degrees thirty minutes 

 and fourteen degrees thirty minutes south latitude, and one hundred and sixty- 

 nine degrees thirty minutes and one hundred and seventy-two degrees fifty minutes west 

 longitude. The principal islands, beginning from the east, are the Manua Group, Tutuila, 

 Upolu, Manona, Apolima and Savaii (the largest), with a number of other small islands 

 and islets. Savaii is about one hundred and fifty miles in circumference. It is of 

 volcanic origin, and from the appearance of some of the craters inland it is probable 

 that, with the exception of the submarine explosion which occurred some few years ago 

 near Tutuila, the latest instances of active volcanic eruption were on this Island. The 

 interior of the Island is very rough and broken, and covered principally with scoria and 

 lava beds. There are only one or two small streams on the Island, but fresh water 

 can be obtained at most of the coast villages. The mountains are between four thou- 

 sand and five thousand feet in height, and can be seen from a considerable distance. 

 The harbour of Matautu is the only one at Savaii within which large vessels can anchor, 

 but it is very unsafe during the rainy season, being exposed to the full force of the 

 north-west winds. Upolu is the most beautiful and the most fertile island in the Group. 

 It is about one hundred and thirty miles in circumference, is well watered and very 

 fertile. Apia, which is the principal port in the Group, is situated on the north coast 

 near the centre of this Island. Tutuila is forty miles to the eastward of Upolu. It is 

 about eighty miles in circumference, and contains the splendid port of Pango Pango, 

 which is one of the safest and best harbours in the Pacific. Manono, which is situated 

 between Savaii and Upolu, is a pleasant island, and has been called the garden of 

 Samoa. It was for many years the ruling power in the Group, and is still of consider- 

 able importance. The people of Manono acquired their supremacy principally from the fact 

 that they were the possessors of a powerful fleet, and had also the natural impregnable 

 fortress of Apolima to flee to in any time of great danger. All these islands of the 

 Group are very fertile indeed, and all tropical fruits can be grown here in abundance. 

 During the American War a great stimulus was given to the cultivation of cotton, and 

 large quantities of a very superior article were produced, but on the conclusion of the 

 war and the restoration of trade with America, it was found that the difficulty of 

 obtaining labour prevented the profitable production of the article at the prices which 

 have since ruled in Europe. There are some fine streams of water at Upolu, and at 

 Apia all vessels can water with comparative ease and expedition. 



Samoa was originally discovered by the Dutch navigator Roggewein, in 1721. The 



