232 



HYDROGRAPHY. 



sunken patches, but it would not be advisable to do so, as it would be 

 better to seek one of the fine harbors in the Asaua Group, where any 

 supplies may be had if required. 



The space included within the Great Western Reef, which begins 

 at Kie Island, off Muthuata, and extends to Awakalo, although it was 

 not all minutely examined by us, yet was found to have so many 

 dangers within it as to preclude my recommending vessels to pass 

 within it ; there are many openings for boats and small vessels, 

 through which they might pass to escape a rough sea outside, but it 

 would be necessary for them to use great caution ; yet many portions 

 are comparatively free, through which a vessel may pass to get to an 

 anchorage in one of the many harbors along the north shore of the 

 Island of Vanua Levu. So dangerous do I think the navigation, 

 that I deem it proper to discourage the attempt being made by a 

 vessel of any size to seek a port through it, if it can be avoided. 

 Towards the western termination of this great reef, which is 80 miles 

 in length, the openings become more frequent and practicable. There 

 is only one rock above the surface of the sea, and that is a basaltic 

 column, called the Sail Rock, 7 miles north of Y'Endua, from which 

 it is distinctly visible ; and in clear weather may also be seen from 

 the western side of Vanua Levu. 



Round Island Passage is between the north end of the Asaua Group 

 and Awakalo ; it is 13 miles wide and without any dangers. 



It is not supposed that navigators will approach this group for the 

 purpose of entering it from the west through the Round Island 

 Passage. This course cannot be recommended, as it would subject 

 them to much difficult navigation in beating about among the reefs, 

 where the tides are strong, and their direction and velocity frequently 

 changed by the reefs. To depart from this group, the Round Island 

 Passage is one of the safest, and all things taken into consideration, 

 probably the best ; much time and distance is saved, particularly 

 when vessels are bound to the westward. 



ASAUA OR WESTERN ISLANDS. 



The Asaua or Western Islands of the Viti Group is composed of 

 forty islands, including large and small ones ; the islands range in a 

 northeast and southwest direction, extending 55 miles from Round 



