244 



HYDROGRAPHY. 



UNDERWOOD GROUP. 



To the northeast of Malolo lie the Underwood Group, consisting 

 of six islets, viz. : Linthicum, Smith, Henry, Ogle, Bateman, and 

 Reynolds. These were named after the officers and men who died 

 in the Expedition ; it forms, with its reefs, a parallelogram, the centre 

 of which is distant from Malololailai 6 miles. The sea is usually 

 quite smooth, and the water of the deepest blue, and few scenes seem 

 to make a deeper impression on the mind, or could afford a more 

 lasting monument to the memory of the dead. Their position on the 

 chart will show their relative situation, and renders any further de- 

 scription unnecessary. 



SOUTH ENTRANCE AND ROUND ISLAND PASSAGE. 



I have already described the entrances into the Viti Group, by the 

 several passages through the eastern islands ; it now remains to men- 

 tion that from the south, which may be preferred by many intending 

 to anchor at Ovolau, or pass through the reefs to some of the ports 

 and anchorages in the larger islands, within the Sea of Viti. 



In the approach from the south, the best island to sight is Matuku; 

 it lies to the southward of all, is high, and may be seen a long 

 distance in clear weather ; a north-northwest course, after coming up 

 with it, will take a vessel to Ovolau, 100 miles distant. There are no 

 dangers, excepting the reef of Muinbolithe, on this route ; it lies to 

 windward of the course, but care should be taken to avoid it. The 

 high island of Angau, off which this reef lies, will be sighted on the 

 starboard bow, and when the centre of it bears to the eastward of 

 north, this reef will be passed. On coming up with Ovolau, with a 

 fresh trade-wind and favorable tide, it is necessary to shorten sail, 

 otherwise the narrow south entrance to the harbor of Levuka may 

 be passed, and oblige a vessel to seek the north entrance, and beat up 

 to the anchorage off the village. In the forenoon the wind is gene- 

 rally light and variable. 



In taking a departure from the Viti Group two routes present 

 themselves which may be followed, — by the Southern Entrance, and the 

 Round Island Passage — according as it may be the desire of the navi- 

 gator to proceed to the southward or westward. If the former, the 

 best course is to pass into the Straits of Ovolau, and beat to windward 



