32 



A NATURALIST IN THE PACIFIC chap. 



9. The Hot Springs of Nambuonu. — These springs are 

 situated on the same part of the Mathuata coast as those of 

 Vatuloaloa above referred to. I learned from Mr. Bulling of Undu 

 Point that they issue from swampy ground half a mile inland. 

 They were discovered accidentally by a Japanese who put his foot 

 into them, the temperature being sufficiently high to scald the feet, 

 but not at the boiling-point, probably about 140 F. 



10. The Hot Springs near Tambia. — These extensive 

 springs, situate i| to 2 miles inland, and rather under 100 feet 

 above the sea, lie near the Mathuata or north coast of the island, 

 some four miles west of the Wailevu river. They rise up in the 

 midst of level country about a mile from the town of Tambia, 

 and near the village of Ngovungovu. Although situated in the 

 valley of the Tambia river, these springs are not adjacent to 

 the river, and in this respect they differ from nearly all the 

 inland hot springs. The hottest spring bubbles up into a pool 

 5 or 6 feet across, which had a temperature of 180 F., in March, 

 1899. Near by is a large deep pool, some 20 feet or more across, 

 with a temperature of ioo°. It receives the overflow from the 

 smaller pool, and apparently hot water also bubbles up at the bottom. 

 Around the smaller hottest pool there is a considerable deposit of 

 what is mainly siliceous sinter. It incrusts the stones and also the 

 oyster-shells lying about the pool in quantities, where they have been 

 left by the natives after their contents had been cooked and eaten. 

 Some of the shells are almost decayed away, the sinter for the 

 most part alone remaining. 



11. The Hot Springs of Vandrani. — These springs occur 

 in the heart of the island, about 8 miles from the coast in a straight 

 line, and about 270 feet above the sea. This is the greatest 

 elevation, as far as I know, at which a hot spring exists in this 

 island. Here they rise up near the base of the central mountain 

 range, close to the head-waters of the Wailevu river which opens 

 into Lambasa bay. The springs bubble up into a pool, a foot deep, 

 on the left side of the river, four or five paces away from the water's 

 edge, and scarcely raised above it. They are covered over when the 

 river is in flood. In February, 1899, the temperature recorded by 

 my thermometer was ioo° F. ; but probably it was a few degrees 

 higher at the bottom of the pool. I noticed no deposits. 



12. The Hot Springs of Na Kama on the Wailevu 

 River. — These boiling springs, which are of an extensive character, 



