HI THE HOT SPRINGS 



35 



varying temperature could be readily made. Unlike most of the 

 inland hot springs, it is not in connection with a stream or river. 



22. The Hot Spring of Ndevo on the Coast opposite to 

 IUmbi, — I did not hear of any spring when in the locality ; but I 

 learned afterwards that near a stream on the beach there is a hot 

 s pring which is covered at high tide. 



23. The Hot Spring of Navuni near Fawn Harbour. 

 — This small spring is situated in a hilly district in a region where 

 oiivine-basalts prevail. I was indebted to Mr. Pickering for show- 

 h >.g me its locality. It lies about three-quarters of a mile inland 

 aid about 100 feet above the sea. It issues from the volcanic 

 a; ^glomerate a few paces from the right bank of the Navuni stream 

 and five or six feet above its level. In May, 1898, it had a tem- 

 piirature of 112 — 113° Fahr. 



GENERAL REMARKS ON THE HOT SPRINGS 



This island is therefore remarkable for the number of its hot 

 springs. In the list given on page 40 I have enumerated 23 

 lo :alities where they occur ; but, as shown below, their number will 

 probably in time be extensively increased. 



On referring to the map it will be observed that the distribution 

 Df these springs is fairly general over two-thirds or three-fourths of 

 thi island. Taking this area at about 1,500 square miles and 

 di-iding it into squares with sides of eight miles, we should, if the 

 5p ings were quite evenly dispersed, find a thermal system in every 

 3q lare. Even amongst the Fijians and among the white residents 

 hi number of hot springs will cause surprise. Only those of 

 5a/u-savu, Wainunu, Nukumbolo, Mbatini-kama, and Na Kama 

 )n the Wailevu river have been up to this time generally known, 

 rh 2 reason of this is that most of them are insignificant, and with a 

 :er iperature far below the boiling-point, and ooze up in unlikely 

 ind out-of-the way places, as by the water-side in little visited 

 ■iv. :r-valleys, on the reef-flats of not much frequented coasts, and in 

 'W< mpy situations where they are likely to be overlooked. The 

 lat ves only recognise as " Na Kama " the boiling or very hot 

 pr ngs ; and it was only after much questioning that I could get 

 he n to tell me of some unimportant " wai katakata " (hot water) 

 ^hi :h they deemed to be far beneath my notice. The natives were 

 :ee ily interested in my botanical and geological investigations ; 

 ut they considered it to be beneath the dignity of a man who had 

 3ei the wonders of Na Savu-savu to spend some time looking for 



D 2 



