V I T I GROUP. 



230 



Group. It is 8 miles in length and upwards of 2 miles in breadth. 

 Its peaks are distinctly seen from a great distance, and are next in 

 height to those of Waia. On its west side towards the northern end 

 there are many coral patches ; its east side is much indented with bays, 

 which, however, offer no shelter for vessels ; at its northeast end it has 

 a reef of outlying rocks off Kupa Point. There are several towns on 

 this island ; the most important is Kumia, on its west side, but it offers 

 no inducement to visit it, and the inhabitants are not trustworthy. 

 Within V aka Bay lies the town of Vaka : this is the best anchorage 

 which this island affords, and the bay is of easy entrance ; the anchor- 

 age is tolerably safe, being partly protected by the coral reef which 

 lies off its mouth, and with a proper lookout for the treachery of the 

 natives, wood and water may be obtained. 



ELD, FOX, AGATE, AND SINCLAIR. 



To the south of Naviti lie four smaller islands, which I have 

 named, after officers of the Expedition, Eld, Fox, Agate, and Sinclair. 

 These are high, rugged, and rocky. Off Eld Island there is a 

 temporary anchorage. They are not inhabited, but are occasionally 

 the temporary abode of the natives from the larger islands. Eld 

 Island is only separated by a boat-passage from Naviti ; it is of a 

 triangular shape, about one mile in length. Fox Island lies east and 

 west, in shape a crescent ; its length is over two miles. Between it 

 and Eld Island there is a good passage. At its eastern entrance lies a 

 small islet surrounded by a reef, and a mile farther to the east is the 

 Moya Rock, which is visible and has around it a reef. Agate 

 and Sinclair Islands are nearly of the same shape, but their lengths 

 lie nearly at right-angles ; they are connected by a coral reef, which is 

 bare at low w T ater. To the east of these there is an outlying coral 

 patch. 



WAIA PASSAGE. 



The Waia Passage is bounded on the north by Sinclair Island, 

 on the south by Waia Island ; it is 3 miles wide between Vatu Islet 

 and 'Mbua Point. There are no dangers lying within it, and the 

 depth of water is adequate for a vessel of any size. 



