200 



HYDROGRAPHY. 



Although it is capable of being well cultivated, it has but few 

 inhabitants, who are subject to the chief of Levuka on Ovolau. There 

 is little to tempt a vessel to anchor at it ; all its productions are 

 brought to Ovolau for sale. 



The Wakaia Reef extends in the direction of Ambatiki, 5 miles, 

 leaving a clear passage of 6 miles between it and the latter island. 

 The position of this reef is at all times visible as the sea breaks upon 

 it ; in places it is bare at low water. The reef which encompasses 

 the Island of Wakaia, is 9 miles in length by 5 miles wide, and is con- 

 tinuous, except at its northwest end ; on the northeast, it is much 

 broken, lying in patches, through which there are many passages 

 leading to the north end of the island, where there is good anchorage, 

 in Flying-Fish Harbor, for small vessels. 



Four miles north of Wakaia the two sides of the reef form a junc- 

 tion, and continue united for a short distance, when they again sepa- 

 rate and form another extensive lagoon, in which is situated the 

 Islands of Mokungai and Mokundranga. 



MOKUNGAI AND MOKUNDKANGA. 



Mokungai lies to the eastward of Mokundranga. It is much the 

 largest of the two islands, and situated on the eastern side of the 

 lagoon. This island is 3 miles long, north and south, by li wide; 

 it is volcanic and hilly, and very much broken at its northern end. 

 On the northwest side lies Mokundranga, of slight elevation, li 

 miles in length, by a quarter of a mile wide. Between the two is a 

 harbor, protected by the reefs on the north as well as those on the 

 northwest. This harbor is accessible from north, east, and west. 

 On the south the Mokungai Reef is 6 miles in length from its junc- 

 tion with the Wakaia Reef to its extreme northern extremity. Its 

 eastern side from the junction tends directly to the island, where it 

 becomes broken, and in places assumes the character of a shore-reef, 

 but there is a narrow passage between the shore and the reef. On 

 the northwest side the reef is broken, but is still distinctly marked, 

 and lies nearly at right angles with the western side of the reef; these 

 patches extend 3 miles, and form the northern side of the lagoon, and 

 the eastern side of the Mokungai Passage, leading from the Straits of 

 Ovolau into the Sea of Goro. J ust off the point of the reef and at the 

 entrance of this passage there is a large coral patch, which may be 



