453 



AUSTEALASIA. 



naturally watered by hundreds of streams and brooklets, and even rivers accessible 

 for some distance to steamers. One of these, the Wai-Levu ("Great Water"), 

 commonly called Rewa-Rewa, embraces in its catchment basin over one-third of 

 the island, and forms a considerable delta at its mouth on the south-east coast ; the 

 tides ascend 26 miles and boats 50 miles farther inland. 



Yanua-Levu, or " Grreat Island," the second in extent, lies north-east of Yiti- 

 Levu, and encloses between its two eastern peninsulas the extensive Nateva Bay, 

 also called the " Dead Sea," owing to the stillness of its waters. This island is also 



rig. 199.— Fiji Islands. 

 Scale 1 : 16,000,000. 



Lasb or breenwich 



to 250 

 Fathoms. 



Depths. 



250 to 1,000 

 Fathoms. 



1,000 Fathoms 

 and upwards. 

 180 Miles. 



volcanic, sending down from its hills numerous thermal rivulets. It is connected 

 with Viti-Levu by barrier reefs, which may perhaps indicate a former coastline, 

 and above which rise several other islands. The large outer reef, whose long 

 convex curve is pierced by an opening in the north-west, supports the little Yasawa 

 and Mamanutha archipelagoes ; on the inner reef stand the islets of Mbauand Ovalau, 

 famous in Fiji history as political centres of the whole group at various epochs. 



Besides the two large islands there are two others of average size, the volcanic 

 Kandavu in the south-west, important as the nearest land to New Zealand and 

 Australia and encircled on the north by a long fringing reef ; and in the north-east 

 Tavuini, dominated by a volcano with flooded crater 2,500 feet high, and separated 



