CHAPTER X. 



FEEJEE GROUP. 

 184 0. 



The Feejee Group is situated between the latitudes of 15° 30' and 

 19° 30' S., and the longitudes of 177° E., and 178° W. It comprises 

 one hundred and fifty-four islands, sixty-five of which are inhabited. 

 The remaining eighty-nine are occasionally resorted to by the natives 

 for the purpose of fishing, and taking biche de mar. There are also 

 numerous reefs and shoals. The latter occupied much of our time 

 and attention, and, with the numerous harbours, have been fully 

 surveyed. 



The shortness of the time we spent in the group may perhaps in- 

 cline some to doubt the accuracy of our surveys. I am however well 

 satisfied myself, that with the exception of the south side of Kantavu, 

 every portion of the group has been as thoroughly examined as is 

 necessary for any nautical purpose, or for those of general geography. 

 The south side of Kantavu, according to the reports of the natives and 

 white pilots, contains no harbours, affords no shelter for vessels, and 

 moreover had been already examined by the French Expedition. 



During our stay at Levuka, we obtained full sets of moon culmi- 

 nating stars for the longitude, placing it in 178° 52' 40-78" E., and 

 circummeridian observations of sun and stars, making its latitude 

 17° 40' 46-79" S. For the other points whose positions were deter- 

 mined, I must refer to our tables. These were all carefully fixed by 

 meridian distances from Levuka, in the island of Ovolau, which 

 occupies nearly a central position in the group. Its position will be 

 more clearly perceived and understood by reference to the map of 

 these islands, which will be found in the atlas. At Ovolau, a regular 



vol. in. 85 



