CHAPTER X. 
FEEJEE GROUP. 
1840. 
Tur 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 incline 
some to doubt the accuracy of our surveys. I am however well satis- 
fied 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 more- 
over 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 determined, 
[ 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 per- 
ceived and understood by reference to the map of these islands, which 
will be found in the atlas. At Ovolau, a regular series of observations 
for magnetic results were gone through. Some interesting magnetic 
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