338 FEEJEE GROUP. 



series of observations for magnetic results were gone through. Some 

 interesting magnetic disturbances took place, which were observed 

 with Gauss's needle, and will be found in the chapter on magnetism, 

 where also are recorded the dip and variation at the different points. 



For the manner in which the detail of the survey of this group 

 was accomplished, I have to refer to the Hydrographical Memoir, 

 where it will be fully explained and illustrated. Taking into account 

 the methods employed, and the means placed at my disposal, it will, 

 I trust, be apparent, that the comparatively short time in which so 

 great a quantity of work was performed, can be no reason why its 

 results should not be relied upon. 



Besides the four vessels of the squadron, which were for a con- 

 siderable part of the time under way, seventeen boats were actively 

 engaged in the surveys. Even the amount of work performed will 

 give but little idea how arduous the duties were. The boats were 

 absent from the vessels from fifteen to twenty days at a time, during 

 which the officers and men rarely landed, and were continually in 

 danger from the treachery of the natives, who were ever upon the 

 watch for an opportunity to cut them off. It gives me great pleasure 

 to be able, with but few exceptions, to bear witness to the untiring 

 zeal of those who were attached to the Expedition, and to the accu- 

 racy with which the work was performed ; and in the cases where 

 error or careless work was suspected, the doubtful parts were resur- 

 veyed, correcting any mistake which might have been committed in 

 the first instance, and verifying the survey where it was accurate. 



The opportunities of the naturalists were as great as could be 

 afforded them consistently with their safety. . It was considered 

 desirable that the interior of the large islands should be reached : this 

 was partly effected up the river Wailevu, by Lieutenant Budd. 

 But journeys on foot into the interior were out of the question, and 

 only those parts of the islands in the immediate proximity of the sea- 

 shore could consequently be visited with safety. Many novelties 

 have been obtained. For a more full description of the several 

 branches of natural history and botany, I would refer the reader to 

 the reports of the different naturalists. 



The climate of the different sides of the islands may, as in all the 

 large Polynesian islands, be distinguished as wet or dry, the weather 

 side being subject to showers, while to leeward it is remarkably dry, 

 and droughts are of long continuance. The difference in tem- 

 perature is however small, and on comparing the meteorological 



