202 LAKEMBA AND SAVU-SAVU. 
fathoms. I believe we were enabled to locate all the shoals in it, and 
I think it a safe passage. With the sun in the east, and steering 
towards the west, the dangers are distinctly visible. After passing 
through this channel, we kept the great reef in sight, sailing for Buia 
Point. When about half way to that point, we passed along a reef a 
mile in length, lying four miles off the large island. The water is so 
smooth within these reefs that it is necessary to keep a good look-out 
from aloft, as the smaller ones seldom have any break on them. 
Beyond Buia Point the passage becomes still more intricate, and 
opposite Rabe-rabe Island it is quite narrow, though there is ample 
water for any vessel. We, however, went briskly on, having a fine 
breeze from the eastward. After getting sight of the Lecumba Point 
Reef, there is but a narrow channel into the bay, which we reached at 
half-past 3 p.m. The Peacock had just arrived from the north side of 
Vanua-levu, and anchored. 
Mbua or Sandalwood Bay, though much filled with large reefs, 
offers ample space for anchorage. The holding-ground is excellent, 
and the water not too deep. The bay is of the figure of a large segment 
of a circle, six miles in diameter, and is formed by Lecumba Point on 
the east and that of Dimba-dimba on the west. The land immediately 
surrounding it is low, but a few miles back it rises in high and pic- 
turesque peaks. That of Corobato is distinguished from the Vitilevu 
shore, and has an altitude of two thousand feet. The shores of the 
bay are lined with mangroves, and have, generally, extensive mud-flats. 
There are few facilities here for obtaining either wood or water, as 
the anchorage is a long distance from the shore. Several small 
streams enter the bay in its upper part, flowing from some distance in 
the interior. This was the principal place where the sandalwood was 
formerly obtained, but it has for some years past been exhausted. I 
shall defer speaking of this district until I have given an account of the 
operations of the Peacock. 
FEEJEE BASKETS, ETC. 
