AFRO-INDIAN REGIONS. 



327 



islands, scattered at all distances, were also mountainous ; though very 

 few of them exceeding the elevation of fifteen hundred feet. But the 

 usual estimate of three hundred islands" in the Group, seemed 

 already, and was subsequently ascertained to be too large. 



Geological structure. Conglomerate or pebble-rock prevailed 

 throughout the Feejeean Group ; passing occasionally, and more or 

 less completely into basalt. The land-surface besides, even where 

 comparatively level, was very generally strewed with blocks of 

 basalt; and one boulder observed in the distance near Naloa, seemed 

 as much as thirty feet in the longest diameter. A quarry of colum- 

 nar basalt, in the same vicinity, was visited; but I was surprised 

 at nowhere meeting with a decided example of vesicular lava. 



Oneata, one of the small islands in the Eastern portion of the group, 

 appears to contain an active volcano ; for Dr. Holmes, on landing, 

 found "the surface overspread with recent lava and scoria," or with 

 lava-strearns. At Savu-Savu, a liot-spring was visited by a party from 

 the Vincennes. And according to resident Whites, earthquakes are 

 frequent in the Feejeean Group ; none however were experienced by 

 ourselves. 



Climate. In the deposition of moisture, there is a difference between 

 the Windward and Leeward portions of the Group. At Ovolau, on the 

 Windward side, the climate seemed almost as rainy as that of the 

 Samoan Islands : while during eleven weeks spent in the Leeward 

 portion of the group, our party experienced no rain ; except precisely 

 in the exposed channel between the two main islands. 



At no time did we find the heat oppressive ; but we were once more 

 told, that we had arrived in the "cool season." Gales are sometimes 

 severe enough to wreck vessels in situations that appear safe, entirely 

 sheltered behind coral-reefs. One of these gales took place shortly 

 before our arrival; and according to Captain Eagleston, "commenced 

 on the 25th of February,"' and lasted four days ; beginning from the 

 Eastward, getting round to the Westward, and blowing harder from 

 the Northwest than from any other quarter; following the same order 



* This may have been the gale experienced by ourselves at the Bay of Islands in New 

 Zealand; where, after a steady rain dui'ing the daytime of the 29th of February, the 

 gale commenced from the Eastward at night; but before daylight shifting to the Westward, 

 proved " the heaviest known there during the residence of the missionaries, with the ex- 

 ception, perhaps, of one that took place a short time after their first arrival." 



