182 



HYDROGRAPHY. 



boundary of the Moturiki Passage. There are several narrow passages 

 through the reef, leading to good anchorages under the island. 



On the west side of Ovolau the coral reef is wanting, except in a 

 few places. Two miles from the island, there is a large area covered 

 with coral patches, called the Mana Shoals, which must be carefully 

 avoided ; there is no difficulty in doing this, as there is sufficient room, 

 either with a fair or head wind. All the direction deemed necessary 

 is to keep the island side of the channel, with a careful lookout from 

 aloft. The channel between the Mana Shoal and the reef off the 

 north end of Moturiki Island is a mile wide and clear. 



On the north of Ovolau, the Lada Reef extends 4 I miles ; its form 

 is irregular ; it encloses an area of about 3 square miles. Patches of 

 coral compose its western side, and project from it to the west, 2 

 miles. Boats may pass among them, but it would be dangerous for 

 even a small vessel to venture. 



MOTURIKI. 



The Island of Moturiki lies within the same reef, and on the south- 

 west side of Ovolau : it might be considered as one and the same 

 island ; for they are almost connected by the two small islands of Anu- 

 tha-levu and Anutha-lailai with their reefs. Moturiki is 5 miles long, 

 by 1 wide ; it trends north-northwest and south-southeast, 5 miles. To 

 the west, abreast the middle of the island, it has some small outlying 

 patches of coral ; its shore-reef extends the whole length, and round 

 on the east side, till within a short distance of Laudolib Islet, on the 

 southeast point of the Ovolau shore-reef. On the north of Moturiki, 

 and between it and Ovolau, there is good temporary anchorage. 



Moturiki has two towns on its southwest side, Sabuna and Corabo, 

 and one on its east, Aubuti. 



MOTURIKI PASSAGE. 



The Moturiki Passage is 4 miles in length, by three-fourths of a 

 mile wide in its narrowest part, between the Island of Thangala on the 

 north, and those of Leluvia, Angasau, and Tombu, with their reefs, on 

 the south. This last is situated at its entrance, near the point of the 

 great reef of Viti Levu, that trends towards Kamba Point. These 

 small islands and reefs form the portals to the Bay of Ambau • they 



