234 



HYDROGRAPHY. 



this reef is bare at low water. The island is covered with a scanty 

 growth of trees, and is connected by its reef on the east with 

 Ya Asaua. Half a mile to the west lies Levu Islet, with a small reef 

 around it ; between them the channel is clear and deep. The Island 

 of Ya Asaua, as before remarked, is connected at its western termi- 

 nation by the reef with Asaua. It is 8 miles in length, and 2 at its 

 greatest breadth ; it has a central ridge running the whole length of 

 the island. Both its northern and southern end curve to the west, 

 forming bays. That to the north I have called Emmons Bay, and that 

 to the south Raritona Harbor. The former is one mile wide by 2i 

 long, protected by a sunken reef, extending 2 miles to the southwest 

 from its western point. It is tolerably protected on the west, but is 

 entirely so on the east and north by the island from which the winds 

 prevail. The depth of water does not exceed 15 fathoms ; but the 

 bottom, unless well up in the bay, is very much broken, and an anchor 

 is liable to be fouled. It is necessary that all anchors should be pro- 

 vided by good buoy-ropes if let go here, as it may be impossible to 

 regain them by any other means. 



The Harbor of Raritona lies at the southern extremity, and is pro- 

 tected on the west by the Island of Ovawa and One Tree Islet ; it is 

 not a very capacious anchorage, from having a great part of its south 

 and west side occupied by a coral flat. At the head of the harbor 

 there is an extensive and fertile plain, from which the hill of Tau- 

 thake rises, to an elevation above the sea of 784 feet. The Island of 

 Ovawa is li miles in circumference, and rises 40 feet above tide. 

 The shore-reefs are for the most part dry at low water. The channel 

 from Emmons Bay to Raritona Harbor lies near the island, but the 

 head of the harbor cannot be approached with the smallest sized 

 vessel, on account of the above-mentioned flat. This island during our 

 visit was almost destitute of any provisions, the inhabitants that were 

 left being obliged to live upon the yaka, a wild root, in consequence 

 of the incursions of the natives from Vanua Levu. The island was 

 formerly under extensive cultivation, and will be again in a few 

 years ; when vessels will be able to procure all the productions that 

 the islands are capable of raising. 



YASAU-I-LAU. 



The small Island of Yasau-i-lau is situated at the southern and 



