Fiji.

Fiji comprises all those islands lying between the latitudes of 16° and 21° S., and the longitudes of 176° E. and 178° W., containing what Tasman named "Prince William's Islands" and "Heeniskirk's Shoals." The number of islands in the group is 225; and they extend over 40,000 square miles of the South Pacific Ocean. Of those islands, 80 are said to come under the name of inhabited islands, and the people are, to a considerable extent, christianised. The chief part is about 1175 miles north of Auckland (New Zealand), 1700 miles north-east of Sydney (New South Wales), and 725 east of New Caledonia. The Friendly Islands, or Tongan group, are nearly 500 miles north-east from Fiji, and the Navigators' Islands are about 000 miles to the south-east. Rotumah, a small but valuable cocoanut island, is only 200 miles from Levuka.

These islands were first discovered by Abel Jansen Tasman in 1643. After this they continued unvisited until Cook named the island he touched at "Turtle Island." Captain Bligh, of the ill-fated "Bounty," passed through the group in 1789, when cast adrift in the launch; and again in 1792, when in command of the "Providence." In 1796 the "Duff," following the same course as Tasman, was nearly lost on the reef off Tanviuni; and about the year 1800 Fiji began to be regularly visited by traders for sandalwood to burn before Chinese idols, or "bêche-de-mer" to gratify Chinese epicures. The first movement for the cession of Fiji to Great Britain occurred in 1858, but the cession was not concluded and ratified till 10th October, 1874. Fiji is now a Crown colony. Sir Arthur Gordon was the first Governor, and High Commissioner of Polynesia, but has just been removed to New Zealand.

Some of the islands exhibit coralline, and others volcanic formation. Much of the scenery is very attractive. Vanua Levu (the great land) is more than 100 miles long, having an average breadth of 25 miles. This island—and especially the western side—is notable as being the only part of Fiji in which sandalwood can be obtained to any extent. Na Viti Levu (the great Fiji) is 90 miles from east to west, and 50 from north to south. The landscape and geological character of the principal islands vary: consisting of level ground, edged by sandstone cliffs 500 feet high; mountains 4000 and 5000 feet high, black and sterile; narrow vales, beyond which rise hills whose wooded tops are in fine contrast with the bold, bare front at the base. Those parts which have been formed by volcanic agency possess indications of craters; but no lava in a stream having been found, the construction of the group, assuming it to have been first volcanic and then coralline, must have been very remote. Volcanic action, however, still prevails in the shape of earthquakes. In Ngau there is enough volcanic heat to produce warm and boiling .springs. The high peaks and needles on the large islands are mostly basaltic. The soil is in some places gravelly and barren; occasionally a stratum of reddish clay and sandstone is found, but a dark red or yellowish loam is most common. This is often deep and very rich, containing, as it does, much decayed vegetable matter. Portions of the large flats, covered with rank grass, treacherously hiding the soft, adhesive mud beneath, would baffle the skill of the British husbandman, although much prized by the natives, who find in them just the soil and moisture needed for the cultivation of their highly-esteemed vegetable food, the "taro." Fiji and its neighbourhood so abound with shore reefs, sea or barrier reefs, beds, patches, or knolls of reef, with sunken rock and sandbanks, as to make it an ocean labyrinth of unusual intricacy, and difficult of navigation.

The population has been estimated at from 100,000 to 300,000; half of the latter number is considered by the best authorities to be nearer the truth. The European population up to 1873 was estimated at about 3000.

Almost any quantity of the richest land can be purchased from the Government on reasonable terms, the upset price for first-class land being £1 per acre, second-class 15s. per acre, and third-class 10s. per acre. The titles to the land are Crown grants, indefeasible and fee-simple; and as all titles are registered, there is no necessity to employ a solicitor. The survey fees for country land are £4 4s. per mile for flat land, and £5 5s. for hilly and other land, The grant fees are—under 300 acres, £3 3s.; under 500 acres, £4 4s.; under 1000 acres, £5 5s. and over 1000 acres, £8 8s.

The revenue of the colony for the year 1878 amounted to £61,021 2s. 8d., and the expenditure to £65,266 10s. 9d. The total value of the imports and exports for 1878 was £329,573 3s. 1d.

The origin of the inhabitants of Fiji is involved in considerable obscurity. There are no traditions or historical records to serve as a guide in the matter; and there is no hint or record of any early immigration. The popular belief among the natives is that they never occupied any other country than that in which they now dwell. But recently certain physical indications seem to connect them with Asia.

The warlike character of the Fijians of recent years did not exist in Captain Cook's time, but is supposed to have been imbibed from Tongan intercourse. Aggression made them warlike. Polygamy exists, and infanticide, which proceeds from it. There are professional child-slayers of children born and unborn. The sick, infirm, and aged parents used to be buried alive; and the rites of cannibalism were unsurpassed. Even King Cakobau, Christian as he is, has partaken of human flesh. And yet the Fijians possess many good traits of character.

Pigs have abounded since the islands were discovered. Various English animals have been introduced, which thrive well, except sheep. Fish is abundant, and whales are numerous. Birds are not plentiful. Insects abound, of which the butterflies are very beautiful. Reptiles are numerous, the lizard taking the lead.

Mr. Williams, American consul, bought a mountain for its rich veins of copper ore. After his death some specimens were found among his effects which proved to be malachite, closely resembling the Australian, and, next to that of the Ural, considered the best. Nothing has been done to work those mines. Ore of antimony also occurs in large veins, in the side of a hill ten miles from Namosi, and at a place called Umbi. Salt is an important production.

A leading article of traffic is the "bêche-de-mer." This is simply a mollusc, very much like a large black snail or slug, with horns or puckles all over it. They get smaller in drying, looking like bits of half-baked clay, varying from ten inches to a foot in length. The Chinese are passionately fond of them, making them into a thick rich soup. Amongst the miscellaneous productions of Fiji are a great variety of beautiful shells.

The manufactured productions of the Fijians are numerous, and by no means contemptible. They have several useful and ornamental manufactures in pottery, and mould many tasteful and serviceable articles, some of which they glaze and vary in colour. They take their models from flowers, leaves, and birds; and the women are the chief manufacturers.

The masi, or native gannent, is made from the bark of the malo, which, after being softened by immersion in water in the manner of flax, is beaten out, and several strips joined together. After being stretched to the desired size, these are carefully dyed, or, more correctly speaking, painted. The "masi" formerly constituted the principal clothing and covering of the islanders, and is in the form of a band around the waist, reaching nearly to the knee.

Mat-making is a source of wealth and occupation, mats being used for many purposes, such as covering walls and floors, and as sails, and they are largely exported to other islands. There are also "nursing" and sleeping mats; and those used as floor coverings are frequently from 25 to 30 feet square, and painted in grotesque patterns. Hand-screens, fans, and ornaments for the neck, arms, and ears, are also manufactured. A great trade is done with the Tahitians and Sandwich Islanders in scarlet feathers, which, in those islands, are a requisite portion of the female toilet, and in Fiji are abundantly furnished by the native parrots. Baskets and nets form also items of industrial produce.