KANBAVU. 179 



Before taking a last farewell of the Fiji Islands, we will 

 add some notices we were able to obtain in a hurried way 

 from the Whites, with respect to this interesting group. 



These islands are situate nearly half way between 

 Australia and Tahiti. A sailing vessel takes about twenty 

 days to go from Sydney to Levuka, their chief commercial 

 port ; the return voyage on an average does not occupy 

 more than fourteen days, owing to the favourable winds 

 which usually quicken their speed. The island of Vanua- 

 Levu, or Nortli Fijian island, contains about 3000 square 

 miles. The superficies of Viti-Levu, or South Fijian island, 

 is about 3,750 square miles. The interior of tliis great island 

 is entirely unknown ; no one, either native or European, was 

 able to say anything respecting the central districts, it not 

 being even known whether or not they are inhabited. The 

 surfaces of the other islands of the group range from ten to 

 400 square miles. The entire population of all the islands is 

 estimated diversely at from 100,000 to 300,000 souls; but the 

 former number is presumably nearest the truth. The island 

 of Kandavu, the population of which exceeds 10,000 souls, 

 is the most peopled in proportion to its surface, which is 

 only 150,000 square miles ; there are numerous villages, 

 containing generally 200 souls, but rarely as many as 500. 

 There is no central or regular government ; on the other 

 hand, a very large number of small chiefs, wliose influence 

 varies respectively according to the power which each 

 possesses. Sometimes one of them has been known to make 

 himself so formidable to his neighbours, as to feed himself 



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