ni 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 

 Rambi. — 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 

 spring 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 

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

 ing me its locality. It lies about three-quarters of a mile inland 

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

 agglomerate 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- 

 perature 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 

 localities 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 

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

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

 dividing it into squares with sides of eight miles, we should, if the 

 springs were quite evenly dispersed, find a thermal system in every 

 square. Even amongst the Fijians and among the white residents 

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

 Savu-savu, Wainunu, Nukumbolo, Mbatini-kama, and Na Kama 

 on the Wailevu river have been up to this time generally known. 

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

 temperature far below the boiling-point, and ooze up in unlikely 

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

 river- valleys, on the reef-flats of not much frequented coasts, and in 

 swampy situations where they are likely to be overlooked. The 

 natives only recognise as " Na Kama " the boiling or very hot 

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

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

 which they deemed to be far beneath my notice. The natives were 

 keenly interested in my botanical and geological investigations ; 

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

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



D 2 



