470 COMPENDIUM OF GEOGRAPHY AND TRAVEL 
longest slope of which is towards the north-west, with 
peaks between 30 00 and 4000 feet in height. These 
are covered with dense forests along the watershed, 
which intercept the south-east trade winds, and, while 
giving rise to numerous streams, leave the greater part 
of the island to the north and west subject to long- 
continued drought. On the south coast, in Savu-savu Bay, 
are the hot springs of Waikama, which have a tempera¬ 
ture within a degree or two of boiling-point, and are 
used by the natives to cook their food. Taviuni, the third 
island in point of size, has mountains of 4000 feet, 
whose slopes are well adapted for agriculture, and many 
Europeans are consequently established there. Kan- 
davu, the south-westernmost of the group, is thickly 
populated, and long celebrated for its forests of kauri 
pine, from which numbers of the large Fiji canoes were 
built. Another island of some importance is Ovalau, 
the chief town of which—Levuka—w T as until recently 
the capital of the archipelago. It is nearly circular in 
form and about 7 miles across, and is very mountainous, 
rising to an elevation of more than 2000 feet, and pre¬ 
senting in this small area of 43 square miles all the 
features of a great mountain system, with numerous 
ranges and spurs, beautiful valleys, and narrow gorges. 
Levuka consists of one long street extending along the 
beach and occupying almost the whole of the level 
ground. The dwelling-houses are perched on the rocky 
mountain-side above the town, and are approached by 
steep winding paths or steps over rocky slopes. The 
site was incapable of extension, so that the removal of 
the official capital to Suva, where there is ample space 
for a considerable town and suburban population, and 
ready access to the interior of a large island, was fully 
justified. 
