OVALAU. 145 



us exceedingly by the pretty configuration of its coast and 

 uplands. Before reaching the reef, which bars the port, a 

 boat-full of natives came out to meet us, and put on board 

 one of its crew who spoke English well, and could act as our 

 pilot. The channel is quite wide enough to be easily run 

 into under sail in a fair wind, and of course was easy of 

 access and without any danger under steam. The water 

 within the reef was calm and smooth as glass. A number 

 of houses were visible on the shore, and the surrounding 

 landscape was remarkably pictvu'esque, with its valleys and 

 deep gorges. We dropped anchor about half-past 12 p.m. 

 in thirteen fathoms close to the shore, under a high cliff 

 which comes down to the beach. 



To lose no time I went ashore in the boat, which had 

 brought the pilot, and made at once for the English consul's. 

 The only person I found there was a clerk, a Mr. Scott, 

 from whom I learnt that the consul. Captain Jones, who has 

 received the Victoria Cross, had left a week before for the 

 purpose of exploring the interior of Viti-Levu, a place quite 

 unknown to the Whites, and of attempting to cross it at its 

 greatest width which is fifty miles, its length being about 

 eighty miles. Mr. Scott informed me that the Commodore 

 would have had a good many matters to settle had Captain 

 Jones been upon the spot. This of course made our regret 

 at his absence all the greater. I learnt from Mr. Scott that 

 there are 60 Whites in the island, and 350 in the whole 

 group ; that it is in the three Eiji Islands belonging to tlic 



L 



