228 



HYDROGRAPHY. 



vessel of any size. The coast from Nandi to Sualib Bay trends in 

 a southwest direction 10 miles ; it is bold and abrupt, aiad offers no 

 harbors or places of protection for vessels. The shore is fringed with 

 coral, and the whole is iron-bound. There are no villages or inhabi- 

 tants throughout the whole distance. 



Sualib Bay is within 2 miles of Buia Point, 'the most southern part 

 of the Island of Vanua Levu. The bay is surrounded by high hills, 

 forming a kind of amphitheatre ; the sides and the flats at the bases 

 are well cultivated, producing large crops of yams and taro. It is a 

 mile in width by lz in depth, open to the southeast ; the coral reef fills 

 up half of its area, consequently the anchorage is very much con- 

 tracted ; the reef is dry at low water, is confined to the head and the 

 western side. At the head of the bay there is a stream of water, on 

 which the town of Tye is situated, surrounded by an extensive grove 

 of cocoanuts. On the eastern side of the bay the town of Sualib is 

 situated. These two towns are divided by a steep, projecting spur, 

 but the extensive reef, when bare, at the head of the bay, enables direct 

 communication to be effected between them at low water; the creek is 

 easily crossed, so that the two at such times almost form but one town. 

 They are under different chiefs; the Sualib chief is the most powerful, 

 and rules. 



With the wind at southeast this bay is a dangerous and exposed 

 anchorage, not suitable for large vessels ; small vessels and boats 

 may find some protection within. The shore at this part of the island 

 is steep and inaccessible. From Sualib Bay to Buia Point the coast 

 trends a little to the southward of west ; the shore is fringed with 

 coral. At low water it is usually dry, not even admitting a boat to 

 pass along ; but this is in part owing to the fish-weirs, which the 

 natives have constructed on the reef, with large stones. The fish are 

 driven into these pens before half tide, where they are easily captured 

 at low water. 



The people of these two towns committed depredations upon one of 

 our boats, for which it became necessary to punish them, and in so 

 doing the town of Tye was burnt ; the inhabitants ever since have 

 shown every disposition to befriend the whites and their property. 



Between Tokelau Reef and Buia Point there are three shoals, lying 

 6 miles from Buia Point ; one was found to be 2 miles in length ; the 

 others are smaller, and lie to the eastward of the largest. Their 

 length lies east and west, but they have very little breadth. Vessels 



