176 LAKEMBA AND SAVU-SAVU. 
It has only a small reef attached to it on one side, the other side being 
free. It offers no facilities for the visit of vessels. Naiau contains 
a population of two hundred inhabitants, who are perched upon inac- 
cessible peaks, in order to protect themselves from depredations. 
Tabutha is thirty miles north of Lakemba. It has a remarkable 
peak, which rises on its northwest end, and is the Cap Island of the 
charts. A reef surrounds it, in which there are two boat-entrances on 
the southwest and northwest sides. There are on it about ninety 
inhabitants: it has no water except from wells. Tubou Totai says 
that this island belongs to him, he having received it as a present from 
the king of Lakemba. There are two small reefs, called Mamouko, 
to the southwest of it, which can be closely approached, and have a 
passage between them. ‘They are three miles from the island, south- 
southwest (true). 
To the eastward of Tabutha lies the small island of Aro. This is a 
very pretty island, and has three reefs in its neighbourhood,—one lying 
northeast seven miles; another, east half south two and a half miles; 
the third, south half east two and a half miles. This small island is 
only inhabited during the turtle season, which begins in October and 
ends in February. 
Chichia lies twenty miles to the northwest of Naiau. It is nearly 
circular, is three miles in diameter, and a shore-reef extends around 
it, with no opening but for canoes. Some of its points are three 
hundred feet high. It is in places thickly wooded, and has about 
three hundred inhabitants. There is a small reef to the southwest, 
with a passage between it and the island. The soil is rich, and 
every thing is produced in abundance. Extensive cocoa-nut groves 
clothe its low points. 
Mango is another small island, eighteen miles to the north-north- 
east of Chichia. It is remarkable for an open space near its centre, 
which appears as if it had been artificially cleared. It is surrounded 
by a reef, which has a break on the northwest side, but affords no 
protection for vessels. ‘The southern part of the reef extends off about 
a mile, and has two small islets in it. It affords no shelter, and there 
is no water except from wells. Its shape is an oval, whose longest 
diameter is three miles, and its shortest two. There is a distinct reef, 
which lies northwest-by-north, four miles from it. 
Vekai, Katafanga, and the reef of Malevuvu, all three lying north 
of Tabutha, were next examined. 
Vekai is six miles from Tabutha. It is a low islet, with an exten- 
sive reef lying on its northwest side, and is resorted to during the turtle 
season. 
