Ka davu, chosen as port of call for the mail gteamers, because of its convenient situ ation and capital harbor, (Goloa), The island is about equal in size to the Isle of Wight. Ovalau, one of the smallest of the larger Isles, measuring only 8 x 6 miles, yet important as the centre of European population, of commerce, and government. It was from this island that I derived my first impressions of Fiji. We had passed Kadavu and other Islands at too great a distance for vis to distinguish anything beyond a mountainous outline, and an appearance of steam at the base, this latter being occasioned by the spray from the breakers as they dash against the coral | reefs which encircle each Isle. The ro3~al isle of Bau appeared — a tiny speck on the horison — and as the day wore on we drew slowly near enV-ugh to discern the Island of Ovalau, win. occasional native villages on its fhc-.e, aud then the great City of. Levuka it.- elf. The island is of volcanic formation, answering exactly to Paddy's description of New Zealand-— " Wher

ever thera is not a hill there is a hol low," its almost perpendicular hills being clothed with rich vegetation, while palm trees wave * gracefully at their base. The coast line is abrupt, arid just where it seems tb be more so than in other places, ;the town of Le vuka drags its straggling length along. One longrow of shabby weather- boarded houses and stores, with a narrow track, and a few primitive bridges over harrow creeks form the main street* — if street it can be called. Residences, not unlike those of our Otago towns, save that they rejoice in an excess of verandahs and an absence of paint, which gives them a poverty-stricken aspect, skirt the lower spurs of the mountains which rise abruptly behind the town to a height of 2000 feet. The harbor is formed by a coral reef, running parallel with the shore at dis tances varying from one to two miles, enclosing a body of water clear as crystal, calm as a village pond, and singularly beautiful when looked down upon from the hills as it reflects the various hues of the coral patches which lie beneath its depths. 