V I T I GROUP. 



140 



group, and are occasionally visited by them. The whole embrace 

 an area of about 95,000 square miles. 



As the group is very extensive, and its islands situated so as to 

 form somewhat detached clusters, I have separated them into three 

 groups, viz., Eastern, Centre, and Western. Those lying in the Eastern 

 range, and trending north and south, are Vatoa (or Turtle Island), 

 Fulanga, Moramba, Kambara, Enkaba, Tubanielli, and Ono ; Ongea 

 Levu and Riki, Angasa, Namuka, Komo, Karoni, Moth a, and Ularua, 

 and fourteen reefs ; Oneata, Aiva, Lakemba, Bacon's and Reid's Isles ; 

 Naiau, Chichia, Tabutha, Aro, Vekai, Katafanga, Mango, Vaturera, 

 Ythata, Kanathia, Munia, Sasui, Vanua Valavo, Avia, Osubo; 

 Naitamba, Okimbo, Veterara, Yalangalala, Namoku, and eleven 

 reefs; of which Lakemba is the principal. The Centre group includes 

 the large and most important islands, viz., Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, 

 Chicobia, Korutuna, Rambe, Kea, Vuna, Kamia, Lauthala, Goro, Mo- 

 kingai, Yendua, Wakaia, Ovolau, Ambatiki, Nairai, Angau, Moala, 

 Tova reef, Totoia, Matuku, Mbenga, Vatulele, Kantavu, Ono, and seve- 

 ral others, lying near the larger islands, and partly joined to them by 

 coral reefs. The Western range embrace the Asua Group ; viz., Awakala, 

 Timboor, Kinsick, Asaua, Ya-asua, Kawakawa, Asaua-ilau Androna, 

 Otovawa, Nanuia, Nangati, Matathoni Levu, Naviti, Eld, Fox, Agate, 

 Sinclair, Waia, Waia-lailai, Waia-lailai-thake, Biva, Knox, Baldwin, 

 Davis, Totten, Vomo, Carr, Johnson, Alden, Walker, Emmons, Perry, 

 Palmer, Malolo, Malolo-lailai, Waldron, and Speiden. 



These will be described in their order from east to west, which is 

 believed to be the most useful, as the islands are usually approached 

 by navigators from the east. Before entering upon the hydrographical 

 description, I will give some general information, that those who may 

 visit this group would most desire. 



The fine season in the Viti Group is from April till November, 

 during which time the winds generally prevail from the east-northeast 

 to southeast; they sometimes blow fresh, but usually a moderate trade 

 prevails, increasing towards the afternoon, and moderating towards 

 night, and continuing during the night hours light and calm. In the 

 harbors and along the larger islands, a gentle land breeze is frequently 

 felt a short time before and after daylight, but is never of long duration, 

 yet it affords facilities of passing outside of the reefs, which obviates 

 much anxiety, as well as the risk of accident. In navigating among 

 the islands, the tides should claim particular attention : the course of 



38 



