V I T I GROUP. 



1G7 



The winds will be found to prevail from the east-northeast to east- 

 southeast, generally from the former, and very seldom from the latter. 

 When the wind has been blowing a strong trade for several days, and 

 has become squally, it will continue from 30 to 40 hours ; after this 

 it will change to variable, with rain, shifting to the northwest for a 

 day, then hauling round again to the eastward, with fine weather. 



ONEATA PASSAGE. 



The Oneata Passage may be recommended if the weather should 

 be fine. It lies between Oneata on the north, and Motha on the 

 south. To enter it, steer a direct west course for Oneata Island, 

 which is high and remarkable. Motha will be seen long before the 

 reefs are discovered. By keeping on the northern side of the pas- 

 sage, the Ickulaka Reef, which lies directly north of Motha, will be 

 avoided. The Oneata is the shortest of the passages, and may be 

 considered the best. Its length is 15 miles, and its width 10 miles ; 

 this, however, is partly taken up by the reefs of Ickulaka. If the 

 passage should be reached near nightfall, and the weather prove bad, 

 I would recommend running for a harbor within the reef of Oneata ; 

 there is no difficulty in entering while daylight lasts, and the ancho- 

 rage under Observatory Isle will be found safe. The break in the 

 reef lies north 67° east from the isle. If the weather is fine, after 

 passing Oneata, Lakemba will be in sight, when a course may be 

 steered to round the reefs of the two Aivas, or, with the intention of 

 passing into the group, steer direct for Vanua Vatu, thence for Nairai, 

 through the Sea of Goro. 



LAKEMBA PASSAGE. 



The Lakemba Passage should not be attempted except in fine 

 weather and by daylight. The reefs will be fallen in with before the 

 islands are seen. The first land made in approaching it from the 

 east will be the Island of Tabutha, with its conical cap. The outlying 

 reefs to the east are distant from it 15 miles : much danger may there- 

 fore be incurred before a vessel gets sight of it. If a good lookout is 

 kept from aloft, these reefs will be seen in time to be avoided, as the sea 

 constantly breaks over them, which permits their being distinguished at 

 from two to three miles distance. Reid's Isles lie on the south side of 



