Feejee, Fiji, or Viti Islands, a group in the South Pacific ocean, between lat. 15° 30' and 20° 30' S., and Ion. 176° 50'E. and 178° 20'

W. Feejee is the name in the windward, and Viti in the leeward part of the group. There are some 225 islands, of which about 140 are inhabited. The population is estimated at 250,000, of whom 4,000 are whites. Viti Levu, or Naviti Levu, is the largest and most populous of the group; it is about 64 m. from N. to S. and 97 from E. to W. Suva harbor is free from shoals, well sheltered, and of easy ingress and egress. The best known towns on this island are Namena, Ndawasamu, Tova, Nakorotubu, Rakiraki, Tavua, Mba, Namoli, Nandy. Vunda, Vitogo or Veitiri, Mbetarau-rau, Nandroga, Ndeumba, and Suva. Vanua Levu (Great island), generally called Vuya by its inhabitants, ranks next to Viti Levu, and is 69 m. X. of Bau, a small island on the E. side of the latter, from which distances in the group are reckoned; it is 115 m. long from E. N. E. to W. S. W., and on an average 25 m. broad.

The principal towns of Vanua Levu are Mbua, Ndama, Navave, Solevi, Navatu, Nasavusavu, Undu, Namuka, Mathuata, Raviravi, and Wailea. The bay of Nasavusavu, 10 m. long by 5 broad, is surrounded by very high and broken land, rising in many places into lofty needle-shaped peaks; behind them several other high peaks reach to about 4,000 ft. A considerable stream of fresh water enters the bay, and a mile below on the beach are hot springs, which are continually steaming. The rock in the neighborhood is compact coral and volcanic breccia. The water has a faint smell of sulphur and a strong saline taste. The natives use the springs to boil their food, which is done by covering them with leaves and grass, when rapid ebullition ensues in the previously quiescent water. Taviuni, commonly but erroneously called by the white residents Vuna or Somosomo, is the third island in size and importance; it is about 24 m. long and 9 m. broad, and 5 m. S. E. of Vanua Levu. The whole island is one vast mountain, 2,052 ft. high, and very fertile. On the top is a lake containing an abundance of large eels. The principal towns on it are Somosomo, Vuna, Weilangi, Wainikeli, and Mbouma. Kadavu or Kandavu is a large, populous, and well wooded island, 69 m.

S. S. W. of Bau and 48 m. from the nearest point of Viti Levu; it is 32 m. long, and averages 4 m. in breadth. On the west is a small bay, Malatta, which offers temporary anchorage, but it is difficult to enter on account of reefs. Westward of Ma-latta is Tavutha bay, frequented by whalers. E. of Kadavu, and between it and the island of Ono, is a well protected harbor. The Mbuki-leru mountain is very high. Another populous island is Gau or Ngau, 13 m. long and 4 broad, 38 m. E. of Bau. The reef extends a mile and a half off the N. E. point, and several miles off the S. side, but is close to the island on the east, where there are several openings, but none fit for anchorage. There is good holding ground in the bay opposite the town of Lakemba. Other towns on this island are Sawayake (the chief town), Nakumbuna, Na-. waikama (at which there are hot springs), Nakorowaro, Levuka, Ourata, Nathavanandi, Lekanai, Nggarani, and Vioni. Koro (meaning a town) is a very fine island. 9 1/2 m. long by 4 wide, 59 m. N. E. of Bau. with an anchorage on the X. W. side. The chief towns are Wailevu or Sithila, Tangandrenga. Thawa-levu, Nasau, Waitaya, and Korolailai. Mo-ala, a high volcanic island, about 4 m. wide by 8 long, 86 m.

E. S. E. of Bau, has several towns, among them Navathunimasi and Tha-kova. The reef on the N. side of Moala is a collection of sunken and detached patches; that on the X. E. extends 2 1/2 m.; to the westward are several passages through the reef, quite safe with a favorable wind. Ovalau, a mountain-ous island about 20 m. from Bau, 8 m. long N. ' and S., and 7 m. broad, is of volcanic forma-tion, and its rocks are composed of a conglomerate or pudding stone. The valleys extend only a short distance into the interior and have little level ground; they are exceedingly fertile, with a dee]), rich soil, and well cultivated. Its harbors are all formed by the reefs. Levuka, a town on the E. side of the island, is chiefly inhabited by foreigners. It is the seat of the Feejeean government, the residence of foreign consuls, the principal shipping port, and has several hotels, churches, and stores. The metropolis of Feejee, containing upward of 1,000 inhabitants, is Bau, or Mbau, on the small island of the same name, which is connected with the large island Viti Levu by a long flat of coral, fordable at high water, and in places bare at low water. Lakemba, or Lakeba, is the principal island on the wind ward side of the group, 160 m.

E. S. E. of Bau; the chief town is Tumbou. Other inhabited islands are Batiki or Mbatiki, Beqa or Mbeng-ga, Cakaudrove-i-wai or Thakaundrove, Cikobia or Thikombia, Kabara or Kambara, Komo, Macuata or Mathuata, Malolo, Nairai, Nayau, Ogea or Ongea, Oneata, Rewa, Vanua Balavu or Mbalavu, Vulaga or Vulanga, often called Fulanga, and Yacata or Yathata.-From the meteorological register kept at Le-vuka by Col. W. J. Smythe, from January to the end of April, it appears that the maximum heat amounted on the 1st of January to 91° 9', and that the minimum temperature on the 8th of April was 72°. The average rain during these four months was 17.29 in.; thunder was heard almost daily, while the wind was generally very light. Thomas Williams places the mean temperature of the group at 80.° There is a large number of rainy days, but uninterrupted dry weather often continues for two or three months. Among the botanical productions are numerous varieties of the dioscorea or yam, called uvi; the balabala, a kind of palm or tree fern, of which the heart is eaten in times of scarcity; the bau, with an edible fruit and a beautiful brown or red wood, used for canoes and boxes; the bele, of which the leaves are cooked and eaten; the bokoi, which .has a fruit scarcely distinguishable from the kavika, a kind of Malay apple tree with a quince-like fruit; the bovu-dama, which furnishes a heavy timber of a light color; and the bulou, with a root resembling in taste an old potato.