172 A NATURALIST IN THE PACIFIC chap. 



On the other hand, in the Sokena Ridge, which is a spur of the 

 main range, we have apparently the accumulation of materials on 

 a sea-bottom, directly ejected from a vent without the intervention 

 of the agency of marine-erosion. In regard to this and other 

 districts in this part of the island it should be remembered that 

 east and west occur undoubted evidences of extensive submergence. 

 It has already been shown that submarine tuffs containing tests of 

 foraminifera and other organic remains occur at heights of 2,000 

 feet and over on the summit of the Koro-tini Range, and it will be 

 subsequently shown that similar deposits are to be found on the 

 neighbouring slopes of Thambeyu as high as 2,100 feet. 



Mount Mbatini 



According to the Admiralty chart this is the highest mountain in 

 Vanua Levu, its elevation being 3,437 feet. It has twin peaks which 

 lie either N.W. and S.E. or W.N.W. and E.S.E. with each other. 

 The northerly or westerly peak is pointed and tooth-like. Hence 

 probably arises its name of Mbatini (mbati-tooth). The southerly 

 or easterly peak is known as Soro-levu. It has a broadly conical 

 outline with a truncated summit. The mountain is named Koro- 

 mbasanga in the Admiralty chart, a name that really belongs to a 

 peak lying about 3 miles nearly due north (N. 5° W.). The natives 

 are very clear in this matter ; but it must be remarked in this 

 connection that Koro-mbasanga, which signifies " a forked emi- 

 nence," would be a very suitable appellation for the double-peaked 

 summit of Mbatini.^ By the natives of the surrounding district 

 the whole mountain is known as Mbatini ; but by the natives of 

 the eastern shores of Natewa Bay, it is usually known as Soro-levu, 

 since the western peak is often more or less hidden from view or is 

 less conspicuous. The profile of this mountain and of the neigh- 

 bouring region is shown in the accompanying profile-sketches and 

 also in one of those illustrating the Koro-mbasanga range on page 

 167. 



As viewed from the top of Mariko to the southward, Mbatini 

 presents itself as a long mountain-ridge, trending W.N.W. and 

 E.S.E., which is connected on the north with Koro-tambu, the 

 liighest peak of the Koro-mbasanga Range, by a saddle probably 



^ I discovered this error in a rather practical fashion by ascending the wrong 

 mountain. The natives were engaged to take me to Koro-mbasanga and they 

 performed their task, my aneroid and compass soon indicating that I was not 

 on the highest peak of the island, but on a lesser peak three miles north of it. 



