V I T I GROUP. 



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out the bay, but the best berth is between the Islands of Vendrala, 

 Naloa, and Tavea ; the depth of water is from 8 to 10 fathoms, 

 muddy bottom. There is a small coral patch between the three 

 islands nearest to Vendrala; but it can be readily avoided in day- 

 light. 



To the north of the islands in Naloa Bay are several reefs, with 

 islands on them, extending in a line to the eastward of Anganga, and 

 forming the northern side of the channel, along the coast of Vanua 

 Leva, viz. : Nakumbutha, Vatungili, Vatou, Loangi, Brackenridge, 

 Nuvera, and Nambiti. Connected with these are reefs extending 

 several miles from the islands to the northward, and from one to two 

 miles in width. There are narrow passages between the reefs, but no 

 anchorage, and little use can be made of them, as they lead only to 

 the area which lies to the north, and bounded at the distance of 18 

 miles by the Great Sea-Keef. This space is very much obstructed 

 with sunken coral patches, so as to make it extremely dangerous for 

 any vessel to venture through it, unless favored by the weather, and 

 keeping good lookouts aloft. In the Great Sea-Reef opposite to An- 

 ganga, there are two openings, which are shown on the chart. Na- 

 kumbutha and Vatungili, are both rocky and small ; while Vatou, 

 Nuvera, Nambiti, Loangi, and Brackenridge Islands are low, and 

 covered with mangrove bushes. The first three are in length from 

 li to 4 miles, and not over half a mile wide; the two latter are 

 quite small, not over one mile in length. Between Vatou and 

 Vatungili, and Naloa and Vendrala, the space is 2 miles wide, but 

 there are four coral reefs, which almost fill it up ; near to Vatou 

 there is a good anchorage in 11 to 15 fathoms water. The bottom is 

 very tenacious, composed of mud and sand. A vessel desirous of 

 taking this rpute may thread her way through the reefs, but it is not 

 advisable to do so. Veraki Point is the eastern point of Naloa Bay, 

 and its distance from Vatou is 2 miles. 



The coast trends to the northeast-by-east, 5 miles to Nuthila Point, 

 which is rocky and projects beyond the line of coast ; here the low 

 land terminates. The extensive mud-flat still continues to make out 

 from the shore to the channel. There are many small streams 

 which empty into the sea along the coast; basaltic columns are 

 visible in the distance, and the land rises towards the centre of the 

 island in several lofty peaks. Among the most remarkable of these 

 are the Mitre and Two Sisters, which attain the elevation of 2300 



