V I T I GROUP. 



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western side of the Bay of Viti Levu, which is 4 miles deep, by 2 wide. 

 At the head of this bay a large stream empties, after the long circui- 

 tous course of 40 miles from the interior, taking its rise in a lake, as 

 reported by the natives. The coast between Novelou Point, across 

 the mouth of Viti Levu Bay as far as the Island of Navumbalavu, a 

 distance of 30 miles, is destitute of a sea-reef; in place of it there are 

 a number of scattering coral patches along the shore-line, and many 

 broken reefs lying due east of Viti Levu Bay, and between the small 

 island of Vitimira and the shore, called the Katakatana Shoals. 



Vitimira is a rocky islet covered with some vegetation, and has an 

 elevation of 560 feet above the sea. It lies west-southwest 6 miles 

 from the west end of the great Mamoa Reef, which extends from 

 Ovalu or Passage Island. The Katakatana Shoals are connected 

 with this island by a reef 2 miles in length, stretching off to the 

 south-southwest ; they are broken up in places into small, sunken 

 patches, but generally lie in the line with the reefs ; their whole 

 length is 10 miles, in an east-southeast and west-northwest direction. 



Between Vitimira and the Mamoa Reef the passage is clear ; it is 

 the best channel leading into the Sea of Viti through the Straits of 

 Ovolau. To the north of Vitimira there are two small reefs, lying in 

 a line with each other ; their whole length is 2 miles. 



Illalu Point lies 2 miles to the southeast of Ceva Point, the south- 

 east point of Viti Levu Bay. The coast beyond Illalu Point trends to 

 the southeast as far as Batatho Point, off which lie the Navumba- 

 lavu Islets. Three miles to the southward of Illalu Point is Nuka- 

 timba Bay ; it makes but a small indentation in the coast, but it 

 affords protection if a vessel is anchored well towards the head of it. 

 The Katakatana Shoals also serve, in part, to protect the anchorage 

 from the sea, but it cannot be called safe in the stormy season. The 

 next bay is Vela, 3 miles further to the southeast ; it is divided from 

 Nukatimba by Round Island. To the southward and eastward, the 

 coast forming it trends due south 2 miles, thence east to Linea Point, 

 but this bay is contracted and exposed, and affords only a temporary 

 anchorage. Linea Point is also the northwestern boundary of Inar- 

 mara Bay. It is somewhat larger than the former, and more pro- 

 tected by coral reefs, particularly off Toki Point on the southeast. The 

 sea-reef approaches very near to the shore-reef off this point, but there 

 is a narrow passage between, which may be made use of in passing 

 along the coast to the northwest. At the head of Inarmara Bay there 

 is a fine stream of water, near to which is the town, surrounded by 



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