VITI GROUP. 



233 



Island Passage to the south. They are for the most part fringed with 

 coral, and have extensive outlying reefs, running parallel with their 

 length, and in many cases uniting neighboring islands ; the reefs are 

 connected with the west end of Viti Levu, and enclose the Sea of Viti 

 on the west. The area between the southern part of the Asauas and 

 the Island of Viti Levu is obstructed by reefs and sand-banks, which 

 impede navigation ; there are also a number of sand-islands, called 

 Underwood's Group, within this space. The northern islands of the 

 Asaua Group are Timboor, Kuisick, Asaua, Ya Asaua, Ovawa, Yasau- 

 i-lau, Androna, Otovawa, Nanuia, Nangati, Matathoni Levu, Yangati, 

 Naviti, Eld, Fox, Agate, Sinclair, Waia, Waialailai, Waialailai Thake, 

 and Biva. The southern ones are Knox, Ombi, Davis, Totten, 

 Baldwin, Lewis, Vomo, Carr, Walker, Johnson, Case, Emmons, Alden, 

 Craven, Perry, Malolo, Malololailai, Soni, Palmer's, Waldron, and 

 Speiden. They will be described in the order in which they come 

 from north to south. 



TIMBOOR AND KUISICK. 



Timboor and Kuisick are two small twin islands, the most northern 

 of this chain; they are quite low, covered with trees, and about a quarter 

 of a mile in circumference, and lie within the same reef; this reef is 

 31 miles in length, by one-third of a mile wide. They form the 

 southern boundary of the Round Island Passage. 



ASAUA, YA ASAUA, AND OVAWA. 



Asaua and Ya Asaua are distant a mile and a half from Timboor. 

 The former island is quite small, and is joined by the reef to the latter 

 on its east end. The channel between Timboor and Asaua is free 

 from danger, and has a depth of water varying from 10 to 15 fathoms. 

 The course through is southwest-by-south. The reefs on both sides 

 may be approached without fear ; the side of Timboor should be pre- 

 ferred, as it is freer from any projecting rocks. I am not aware that 

 there are any other dangers on either side. 



Asaua is but half a mile in length by a quarter in width. It rises 

 to the height of 50 feet, forming a knoll. It is surrounded by a coral 

 reef, which projects nearly a mile to the southward and westward ; 



59 



