17G 



HYDROGRAPHY. 



length : it rises in a dome-shaped hill to the altitude of 750 feet. The 

 reef is continuous around, and offers no protection for vessels, and 

 only a few passages for boats ; it does not extend from the island 

 more than a third of a mile. There are several small villages. The 

 inhabitants of all are subject to Ambau, and are afraid to do anything 

 without the authority of its chief ; therefore it is fruitless to attempt 

 to get supplies from them, unless having permission from the proper 

 authority. The number of inhabitants amounts to 500. 



GORO. 



The Island of Goro lies north of Nairai, 25 miles : it is half way 

 between the latter and Yanua Levu, and is southwest of Vuna, 30 

 miles. Goro is a high island, not so much broken as those I have 

 already described ; has no sharp peaks, but is capable of being culti- 

 vated to its very top ; a large part is table land. Like the rest, it is of 

 volcanic formation. It is 9 1 miles in length, by 4 in width. The 

 usual sea-reef is here wanting, and the shore-reef is not continuous. 

 The form of the island is a trapezium, its length lying nearly north 

 and south. On the east side the shore-reef is irregular, having many 

 projecting points and deep indentations, in shape of large segments. 

 This reef projects at the northeast point one and a half miles to the 

 north. There are likewise patches of the shore-reef off the southwest 

 and northwest points of the island, but the west side and part of the 

 north end are free from coral. There are two small anchorages under 

 this island : on the west side, one at the northwest, and the other 

 at the southwest point. That in Kalau Harbor, under the north 

 point, is the best. On the north side there is no anchorage. Useless 

 Bay is too much filled with patches, and Coa Coa Bay offers no 

 inducements. Under Ruku Point, close to the shore, there is anchor- 

 age, but it cannot be recommended. The east side, from the trend 

 of the reef and its being the weather side of the island, offers 

 scarcely a place for even a small vessel to seek shelter in. Temporary 

 anchorage may be had near the southeast point. The northeast 

 point must be avoided, on account of the distance to which the shore- 

 reef runs off. On this reef there is a small sand-spit, beyond which 

 the reef extends three-quarters of a mile. 



Goro has 2000 inhabitants, and there are many towns, which are 

 very flourishing. It produces more cocoanut oil and tortoise-shell 



