We should expect that the mode of life and the history of the Fijians would differ from that of the inhabitants of the small coral islands, since they have for their home a comparatively large area of land with marked geographical peculiarities. Viti Levu is over eighty miles from east to west and sixty from 23 north to south. It is a land of mountain and river; whereas the ordinary coral island has no rivers worth the name. A range of rugged mountains runs along the northern coast, at no great distance from the sea, the highest point being Mount Victoria, which rises to 4500 feet. It is from this part of the island that the long rivers Rewa and Singatoka flow to the south-east, and a smaller stream, the Ba, to the north-west. The third largest river, the Navua, rises in other heights towards the south of the island, which we shall visit later. Here is a scene on the Navua. 24 The Rewa is long and winding, but it is navigable for shallow draught steamers for about forty miles from its mouth. The whole of the south-eastern part of the island is wet and was originally covered with forest; but the coast-lands to the north-west, under the lee of the mountain ridges, are drier and more open, as we may judge from this picture. We can look across the forest, with 25 its dense undergrowth of fern and creeper, and narrow trails along which we walk, and see in the distance the outlines of 26 the jagged mountains of old volcanic rock. There are no active volcanoes in the island, though hot springs in many parts show that volcanic activity is not yet entirely exhausted. Here are 27 some of these springs. [Illustration: _Copyright._) (_See page 128._ BANANA BOATS: SUVA.] [Illustration: _Copyright._) (_See page 131._ COCONUT TREE.] [Illustration: _Copyright._) (_See page 133._ MAKING MATS: FIJI.]