V I T I GROUP. 



191 



west of Granby Harbor, and the shore-reef continues unbroken, and 

 offers no kind of protection in all this distance. A shore-reef sur- 

 rounds the bay ; it is narrow ; on it the surf beats violently. 'Ndronga 

 affords temporary anchorage ; it is not a safe port ; the swell rolls in 

 heavily, and a vessel is very much exposed. The anchorage is in 8 J 

 fathoms, sandy bottom. To the northwest of 'Ndronga is Peck's 

 Peak, which is the landmark for the harbor. 



After leaving 'Ndronga the land changes its character, becoming 

 sandy, and much less in altitude. Six miles west of 'Ndronga is 

 Leku Island ; here there is a fine harbor for small vessels ; the en- 

 trance is narrow ; a northeast course leads in. The only wind to which 

 it is exposed is that from the southwest, which seldom blows. Leku 

 Island is easily recognized from the groves of cocoanut palms ; huts 

 were seen on it, but it is believed to be only a temporary abode of the 

 natives : wood and water may be procured there. From Leku, the 

 coast of Viti Levu trends to the northward and westward, the low hind 

 gradually extending in width as the hills retreat from the shore-line ; 

 the hills are destitute of wood, but the lowland is covered by exten- 

 sive groves of cocoanut palms. The distance to Navula Point, the 

 extreme western point of Viti Levu, is seven miles ; the shore-reef 

 extends to the distance of a mile to a mile and a half from the shore. 

 There is no opening in the reef until the Navula Passage, which lies 

 A\ miles to the westward of Navula Point. This passage is a good 

 one for small vessels to enter, though the course through takes a 

 sharp elbow turn. As the wind which generally prevails under the lee 

 of Viti Levu is from the westward, a vessel in coining out is obliged to 

 make several tacks. After passing the reef and entering Navula Bay, 

 a vessel may anchor in any part of it, in from 12 to 15 fathoms 

 water, muddy bottom. The direction of the Navula Passage is north- 

 east-by-east; it is half a mile wide, and a mile in length, the soundings 

 in it 13 fathoms. The flood sets into the passage, and the ebb out, 

 both strong, the latter 2i to 3 knots; the low tide generally leaves the 

 reefs bare, when the outline of the passage is visible. This passage 

 may be used by a ship to pass in, but I would rather prefer recom- 

 mending that of Malolo, 3 miles to the west, both to enter and depart 

 from. 



After clearing the reefs on the west side of Viti Levu, and being 

 desirous of proceeding to the northward, the best course to pursue is 

 to hug the Viti Levu shore. The winds in this part of the group 



