[11]. This, however, is not the case with the recent changes at the mouth of the Rewa River in Viti Levu, where the bare sandy point of Lauthala has extended itself seaward between 500 and 600 yards since 1840, whilst Port Nukulau has shoaled a fathom in the same period. But I can find no evidence of any marked advance in the mangrove margins either towards Nukulau or on the Kamba side, the only change recognisable being in the bare sandy point of Lauthala, the rapid extension of which has been such as to attract the attention of residents, both whites and natives. Dana, who was in this locality in 1840, remarks in the Geology of the U.S. Exploring Expedition, that he had learned from a person who had resided there for forty years that during this period the deposits had lengthened the river half a mile. When I was on the Rewa in 1897 I heard that the natives in old time could see Suva Point from Rewa. This is probably a native legend connected with the modern extension of Lauthala Point. (The charts compared in making the above measurement of the recent advance of this point were the plan of the Rewa Roads by Wilkes, in 1840, and the Admiralty charts 1757 and 905, the former of which was based on Lieut. Dawson’s survey in 1875, the last being corrected to 1897.)
[12]. Between Mathuata Island and the coast a change is indicated from 9-10 fathoms to 8-9 fathoms, north of Motua Island 12-13 to 11-12, and between Nangano and Thakavi 16 to 14 fathoms.
[13]. By referring to the chart it will be seen that extensive mud-flats occur at the mouths of the Sarawanga and Ndreketi rivers, where the land-margin is slowly advancing.
[14]. United States Exploring Expedition, vol. x.; Geology, by J. D. Dana, p. 343.
[15]. A Year in Fiji, by John Horne, London, 1881, p. 163.
[16]. Journal, Royal Geographical Society, 1857, vol. 27.
[17]. Scottish Geographical Magazine, August, 1891.
[18]. Journal des Museum Godeffroy, heft 14, Hamburg, 1879.
[19]. Dr. Max Büchner also refers to this spring in his Reise durch den Stillen Ozean, 1878.
[20]. Bulletin Museum Comparative Zoology, Harvard, vol. 38; Geolog. Series V., No 1, Nov. 1900.