LAKE MBA AND SAVU-SAVU. 209 



of distilled water, was evaporated to entire dryness, and the weight of 

 the salts amounted to 7-2 grains. 



These salts yielded upon analysis the following results : 



Chlorine 3-577 



Sodium 1-665 or Soda — 2-238 



Magnesia 0-440 



Lime ....... 0-366 



Silica and iron, with a trace of phosphate of lime 0-200 



Carbonic acid ...... 0-493 



6-741 

 Organic matter and loss, .... 459 



7-200 



Early in the morning, the launch and first cutter came in. From 

 the officer's report, I found that he had surveyed (since I left him on 

 the 4th of June on Passage Island) the reef between it and Vanua- 

 levu, and part of the distance down to Mbua or Sandalwood Bay. 

 There he had remained inactive for ten or twelve days, until Captain 

 Hudson sent him a fresh supply of provisions, and additional orders 

 to proceed along the south side of Vanua-levu, which he was doing 

 when he joined me. In extenuation of his delay at Sandalwood Bay, 

 he pleaded the literal construction of his orders : they will be found 

 in Appendix VIII. On such duty, a commanding officer frequently 

 labours under a disadvantage from giving officers more credit for a 

 zealous disposition than they deserve. I thought the orders were 

 sufficiently explicit to have allowed a construction to be placed upon 

 them that would have saved much valuable time, and have left the 

 officer full liberty to work hard if he were so inclined. The bay of 

 Mbua was not even surveyed, and I was forced to send him back 

 again the same afternoon to the survey of the route he had already 

 passed over. 



On the 3d of July, we were engaged in surveying the upper por- 

 tion of the bay, and in making astronomical observations, which were 

 all completed by night. 



Towards evening the tender came in and anchored, having suc- 

 ceeded in accomplishing the survey of both the island of Goro and 

 the Horseshoe Reef. The former is considered by the natives one of 

 the most fruitful islands of the group. It is a high island, though not 



vol. in. 53 



