Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Friday 3 July 1857, page 2


CENTRAL POLYNESIA.

No. 17. A GAZETTEER OF CENTRAL POLYNESIA—(CONTINUED).

(ABBREVIATIONS.—For the Fijian Archipelago—Fi :, for the Samoan Archipelago—Sa :, for the Vaitupu Group—Vai :, for the Tongese Archipelago—T :, for the Hervey Group Her :, for the Marquesas Archipelago—Mar :, for the Society Isles—Soc :, for the Georgian Group—Geo :, for the Austral Group—Aust :, and for the Paumotus Archipelago—Pau :. By observing these abbreviations after the name of any island it may be seen whether it forms part of any of these larger groups and archipelagos, and further and more elaborate information relative thereto be readily obtained.]

NAEVU, Fi : A small island to the E. of Ongen, one of the eastern

group of the Fijian Archipelago.

NAIKOVU, Fi : (or Kovu.) A rocky inlet in Mothea or Eliza Reef,

of volcanic origin. Ironwood grows here. A singular variation of the compass was observed here by Lieutenant Underwood,

in 1840. Naikovu lies SSE. of Nairai or Neri, which see.

NAINGANI, Fi : A small high island, 6 miles NW. from Ovalau,

and 22 miles N ½ E. from Bau. It has two towns.

NAIRAI, Fi : (or Neri.) An island 14 miles due E. from Batike (or Batike, or Vatike, to which refer under letter B.), 49 miles

E. by N. from Bau, 8½ miles NE., of Gau, and 31 miles, ESE. from Ovalau ;—occupying a space of 4 miles by 3 miles, on a N. and S. trend, but belted by 33 miles of reef, ranging 5 miles off the W., and 4 miles off the N. and S. extremes of the island. In

this reef a slip opening, leading into a three mile area of from 10 to 15 fathoms sheltered anchorage,—the Bay of Korombamba, may be picked up by bringing up Needle Peak to bear NNE, but it is subject, like that of Gau, to a masthead

look out for 9 feet patches. Needle Peak, which is 1078 feet high, stands up at the northern part of the island, and lies in latitude 17.47.33 S., and longitude 179-24-3 E. Variation in har-bour 8-46 E. ; height of tide 4 feet 7 inches; flows upon full and change days to 5 hours 53 minutes. The population numbers 1162 ; all Christianised under the Wesleyan mission, and stated to be now a friendly people in all respects resembling those of Gau. Nairai is famous for the manufacture of its mats and baskets. Its towns are Natauloa, Tovulailai, Lawake, Kana, and Waitonga. The only danger near this island is a small coral patch, lying ESE. (at the distance of a mile) from the southern end of Nairai, and a mile to the N. of Naikova Rock,

to which refer.

NAIRSA, Pau : (or Oanna, or Rairoa. The Vliegen, or Fly

Island, of Schouken and Le Maire ; Prince of Wales Island of Byron. Also called Dean's Island.) This is considered the largest lagoon island of the Paumotu Group,

being at least 46 miles in length from E. to W., and about 20

miles in breadth, at the widest part of the lagoon. It lies in the

NW. part of the Paumotus, W. of Arutua or Rurick Island, and to the E. of Tikehau or Krusenstern's Island 15 miles. Has an entrance to its lagoon at the western extremity (in latitude 15-0-5 S., longitude 147-5-9 W.), near which there is an anchor-

ago. Another opening also is to be found on the NE. side of the island, but the most westerly entrance is N. by W., by what

is called the Middle Harbour. There, is good anchorage imme-

diately after entering in a bight on the W. side. Nairsa is in-habited by a quiet people.

NAI SAU SAU, Fi : A small island also called Sau Sau, on the N.

coast of Vanua Leva, lies 5 miles NE. of Muli. NAI SONI SONI, Fi : An islet in Na Savu Savu Bay in the island

of Vanua Levu. Is commonly, but erroneously, called Kom-belau or Navatu Point. Good anchorage to the NW. of it. Lies 68 miles N. by E. from Bau.

NAITINGILITHA, Fi : (Tingilitha or Tinglltha.) An islet 15 miles

from Undu Point, at the NE. extremity of Vanua Levu. It is

about three-quarters of a mile long, and 3 miles equi-distant from Bukelau Island and Tibethe Point.

NAITOUMBA, Fi : (Naitaumba and Naitamba.) An island 5 miles in circumference, 11 miles NW. by W. from Vanua Valavo, to the

N. of the eastern group of the Fijian Archipelago. As to its

other bearings, it lies 35 miles E. by S. from Taviuni or Vuna, and 75 miles to the northward of Lakemba. Naitoumba is

high, rugged, and of a circular form. Its reef has no openings. Was recently heathen, but is now probably Christian, or par-tially so. Subject to Somu Somu.

NAIVAKATANGGALISAISAI, Fi : A rocky islet, like the hull of a ship, near Moturiki, which see. NAIVAKA. Fi : An islet off the N. Coast of Naviti Levu.

NALOA, Fi : See Galoa.

NAMALATA, Fi : (or Mallatta-ta.) One of the Exploring Isles,

to the N. of the Eastern Group of the Fijian Archipelago. Lies

between Vanua Valavo and Susui. NAMLATIA, Fi : An islet near to Mali, on the N. coast of

Vanua Levu.

NAMBEKAVU, Fi : An islet, with a town on it, in the River

Tavu, 2 miles from the mouth. The Tavu is a river of Vanua Levu, which enters the ocean on the N. side of that island, about 20 miles W. of Undu Point.

NAMBITI, Fi : An island on the NW. coast of Vanua Levu,

1 mile E. of Nuvera Island. NAMBULAMBULEWA, Fi : (Navambalevu,?) A small island near Nabiti Levu ; a quarter of a mile from the coast on the

NE. side. It is 19 miles from Bau in a northerly direction. NAMOTO, Fi : A very small islet opposite to Ravi Ravi, NW. of

Vanua Levu.

NAMUA, Sa : See Fish Islands. NAMUKA, Fi : (Namuka-i-lau. or Muka.) An island 30 miles S.

by E. from Lakemba, one of the eastern group of the Fijian Ar-chipelago. It is Christian and subject to Lakemba. Has no anchorage.

NAMUKA, Fi : (Namuka-i-ra ; also Yunuea or Yunutha ?) Lies

7 miles W. of Benga (in the same sea reef) at the SW. end of Naviti Levu. In 1840 it contained about 100 inhabitants. The

rights proprietary and territorial of this island are vested in James Hartwell Williams, Esq., of Sydney. See Benga.

NAMUKA, T : (or Mamooca; the Rotterdam of Tasman, and the

Anamooka, or Anamouki of Cook, &c.) One of the Habai

cluster, a fine island about 6 miles long, lying to the SW. of Lefooga, or Lifuka, near the southern extremity of the Habais.

NAMUKA-JII, T : (or Namooca-chi, &c.) An islet near the fore-

going.

NAMUOIIOGO,T : A smail islet close to Ovaka, near Yavau, 15 miles W. of Neiafu.

NANANU. (Annan I. of some charts.) A small island off the

most northerly point of Naviti Levu. NANANUGATA, Fi : An islet close to the foregoing, to which

refer. NANDRALA, Fi : (or Veindralal) An island N. of Vanua Levu, near Tavea. NANDONGO, Fi : A small island at the N. of Vanua Levu.

NANGATA, Fi : An island between Yangata and Nanuia or

Nanuya, one of the Yasawas. See Nanuya.

NANGA-SAUTAMBU, Fi : (or Nasautabu, the Angasautombu of

Wilkes.) A very small Island at the entrance of the Moturiki passage, off the E. coast of Naviti Levu ; 12 miles from Bau.

NANUKU, Fi : An islet within a very large reef 12 miles ENE. of

Luthala, to the eastward of Venua Levu.

NANUTHA, Fi : See Yanutha Levu and Yanutha-lailai, &c.

NANUYA, Fi : (Nanuia.) Two small islands in the Yasawas NW.

of Naviti Levu. The two lie between Otovawa and Androna.

NAROKORO KOYARA, Fi : One of the Yasawas NW. of Naviti

Levu, It is near the large Island of Waia.

NARUROTU, Her : (?) An uninhabited island, SE. by E. of

Mauke, with a lagoon in its centre ; laid down by some autho-

rities in latitude 21-45 S. longitude 155-10 W. Known to the people of Mauka by tradition only. NARONGAI, Fi : A very small island near Lotu, an islet on the

S. coast of Vanua Levu.

NASAUTABU, Fi : See Nanga-sautambu. NASOAKA, Fi ; An islet at the mouth of the Walleon River, the SE. side of Naviti Levu, near Rewa.

NATANGA, Fi : (Natang of Wilkes.) An islet on the S. coast of

Vanua Levu, between Sau Sau Point and Rativa Island.

NATEWA, Fi : See Nathawa. NATHAWA, Fi : (Same as Natowa ?) One of the Yasawa Group, to the NW. of Naviti Levu. NATHULA, Fi : One of the Yasawas NW. of Naviti Levu.

NATUOU, Fi : A small island in Nasavusavu Bay, S. of the

Island of Vanua Levu.

NAVAMBALEOU, Fi : Two islands N. of Nukuleva or Nukulevai,

on the E. side of Naviti Levu, opposite a town on the main land. See Nambulambulewa. NAVATU, Fi : A small but populous island behind Naisonisoni,

in Nasavusavu Bay, on the S. coast of Vanua Levu. It is inde-pendent. It's inhabitants are fishermen.

NAVIGATORS' Islands. (L'Archipel Des Navigateurs of the

French ; and, as some suppose, identical with the Bauman Isles of Jacob Roggewein.)-This interesting and important series is

fully described under Samoan Group, to which the reader is

referred. NAVITI, Fi : The largest island of the Yasawa Group, NW. of

Naviti Levu. Lies between Yangata and Eld Island. It is 30 miles distant, from Ba, on the mainland of Naviti Levu. NAVITI LEVU, Fi : The largest and the most populous island in Fijian Archipelago. Length, from E. to W., 87 miles ; breadth, from N. to S. 54 miles. The towns and

districts best known are, without reckoning Bau, (a),

Namena, Ndawasamu, Tova, Nakorotumbu, Raki Raki, Tavua Ba or Mba, Namoli, Nandy, Vunda, Vitongo or Veitire, Mbeta-

raurau, Nandronga, Ndeumba, Suva, Serua, Naitisiri, Unga-manu, Kulawatha, Rasea, Nadaro, Tobonggio, Tubulevu, Nairara, Na Vatu Lavu, Na Vatu, Kamba, Rewa, Nakelo, Na-mara, Namata, Momi, Ovea, Dravuni, Kumi, Naivuruvuru,

Macoi, Varata, Nailotu, and many others. As regards the harbours (a comprehensive list of which will be found under head of Fijian Archipelago), it is sufficient here to observe that

the southern coast affords generally speaking, but little con-

venience for the anchorage of vessels, although on the other parts of the coast there are several good bays. The chief har-

ours on the S. side are Dronga Harbour, Granby Harbour, Whippy Harbour, Rewa Roads ; and, to the W. of the last-named, Suva Harbour. Suva Harbour has been surveyed, and found to be an excellent one, free from shoals, well sheltered,

and with good holding ground ; easy of ingress and egress, and

with an abundance of good water. It lie's 10 miles W. of Yewa Roads.

The interior of Naviti Levu if mountainous, but extensive lowlands and marshes exist in some parts of the country near the coast. There are several fine streams of water in Naviti

Levu, but few considerable rivers; the largest, Waleru or

Peale's River, falls into the sea near Reva. The inhabitants, from 80 to 90,000 souls, are still, generally speaking, barbarous heathens, though Christianity and civilisation have of late made great progress. To enter further into particulars respecting this fertile and most important island would exceed the limits, and be beside the object of this work. Naviti Levu is often

divided and distracted by the quarrels of its petty chiefs, amongst whom the Chief of Bau (who was converted to Christi-

anity by the Wesleyan missionaries about three years since)

occasionally claims and attempts to exercise a sort of supremacy.

NAVIU, Fi : A small island towards the NE. end of Vanua Levu. NAVUTU-I-LOMA, Fi : (Abootolema.) See Yangasa Islands. NAVUTU-I-RAI, Fi : (Abootoena.) See Yangasa Islands.

NAVUTU-I-THAKI, Fi : (Abootu.) See Yangasa Islands. This,

together with the two preceding islets, is in the eastern group of the Fijian Archipelago.

NAWANDRAU, Fi : A sandy islet on the N. side of Vanua Levu,

near Tavia ; which see.

NAYANUYANU, Fi : (signifying an Island.) An Islet off Somu

Somu, at the E. end of Vanua Levu.

NAYANUYANU, Fi : Name given to the two islet's Thanggalai

and Lelevuia, E. of Naviti Leva. See those islets.

NAYAU, Fi : (or Naiau.) An island about 9 mlles in circumfer-

ence, 15 miles NW. by N. of Lakemba in the eastern group. Religion, Christian. Has three towns, Ndvu, Liku, and Naro-thakl, built upon peaks. Lofty, rising in cliffs precipitously

from the waters edge to the height of 275 feet. Has a reef all round it, and offers no facilities for vessels.

NEDERLANDISCHE I, Vai : (or Netherlands Isle, also called

Egg I.) An island in the Vaitupu Group, lying to the NW. of Nukufe-tau, or De Peysters's Island, and to the W. of Vaitupu

or Tracy Island.

NEGHERI, Pau : (also called Niheri.) A lagoon island lying

N. of Marutea, or Furneaux Island, and SW. of Taenga. Lies

in * latitude 16-45 S., longitude 142-45 W. Has an opening on the southern side.

NEILL ISLAND, Fi : An islet 2 miles E. of Green's Island, off

the N. coast of Vanua Levu.

NEMENA, Fi : (Direction Island of Wilkes.) An island occupy-

ing a central position between Goro and Nandy Bay on Vanua Levu.

NEMENA, Fi : (Omene in some charts.) An islet on the

Eastern coast of Naviti Levu, between the mainland and the

important island of Ovalau.

NENGO-NENGO, Pau : (or Neingo-Neingo ; Prince William Henry of Wallis, and L'Ostange of Duperrey,). A lagoon

island, about 10 or 12 miles long, and of which the breadth varies, NW. of Manuwangi, and SW. of Heeow. At

the S. end there is a gap of about 2 miles in width, apparently safe for a vessel to approach the lagoon by but very dangerous. Nengo-Nengo is uninhabited. It lies, according to Beechey, in latitude 18-45-53 S., longitude 141-43-38 W., reckoning for the SW. extremity of the island.

See Paraoa. NEPEAN ISLAND. See Norfolk Island.

NEZIMPAZIMBA, Fi : Two islets off Kamba Point, in Naviti

Levu.

NGANAITI, Pau : (Byam Martin I. of Beechey.) A small island of coral formation, with a lagoon and productions similar to

most of the other islands of the Paumotus. It is of an oval shape; 3 miles in length, by three-quarters in breadth. Its NW. extreme lies (according to Beechey, who discovered it in 1826) in latitude 19-40-22 S., longitude 140-22-28 W. At the time

of its discovery it was found to be inhabited. NGGAMEA, Fi : (Spelt in Fijian Qamea, the Kamia of Wilkes.) A well wooded and inhabited island N. of Taviune. Lies be-tween Taviune and the Islands of Lauthala, to the E. of Vanua

Levu. Subject to Somu Somu.

NGGELEVU, Fi : Qelelevu in Fijian.) An island NE. by N. of Somu Somu, at the distance of 40 miles. It lies to the E. of

Vanua Levu.

NGGOMO-LAILAI, Fi : (Qomo-lailai, in Fijian.) An islet on the

NE. side of Naviti Levu. NGGOMO-LEVU, Fi : (Qomo-levu, in Fijian.) An islet adjoining the foregoing.

NIAU, Pau ; (Greig Island.) A lagoon island in the NW. part of

the Paumotus, SE. of Kaukara, and SW. of Toau ; to the W. of the northern extreme of Fakarawa or Wittgenstein's Island, lies in * latitude 16-15 S., longitude 146-20 W.

NIELSON I, Pau : Name given by Beechey to an isles at the SW.

end of Relcher's Island (Akena), one of the Mangareva group. See Mangareva.

NIFO, Fi : An islet, E. of the Islet of Ato ; between Nangata and

Yangrta, to which refer.

NIHERI, Pau : See Negheri. NIMANOFF I, Fi : (In some charts Simanoff.) See Doi. NINIVA, T : An islet in the Habais, W. or Lefooga.

NIUA BABU, T : A narrow island, 4 miles long, in the Vavau

cluster or group; 10 miles to the westward of Neiafu, and

and about 5 miles E. of the Island of Hoonga. Is inhabited, and has two kolos settlements-Niua-babu and Manamaka. At Niua-babu is the marine cavern called Ana-uku, immortalized by Lord Byron.

NIUA FOOU, T : (Sometimes incorrectly, Onooafou, Oonavoo,

&c. The Hope Island of Schonten and Le Maire, and the Proby's Island...of Edward»s) An island NNW. of what, is more immediately the Tongese Archipelago) in which there are said to be thirty craters. Lies to the westward of Niua Tobu-tabu, about 190 miles NW. from Vavau, and 130 miles in the direction from Amargura or Fanua-lai. The last volcanic erup-tion on Niua-Foon took place on 24th June, 1853, when it de-stroyed a village and caused the death of eighteen persons. The

streams of lava took a course of 31 miles long, by three-quarters of a mile in width. Niua Foou is inhabited by 1200 people, who

are Christians, Erskine, however, estimates them at 800 only. NIUA TOBUTABU, T : (Keppel's Island of Wallis, &c.) Strictly

speaking, this is the proper name of Keppel's Island only-a low island about 160 miles to the N. of Vavau. But since Niua

Tobutabu is frequently, although erroneously, used as a common designation for both the Keppel's I. and Boscawen I, of Captain Wallis. It will perhaps be more convenient and intelligible here to describe it with the neighbouring and less important island of Tafahi or Boscawen's Island ; especially as the two stand by themselves and are closely connected with each other. . . . I. The South-western Island-Niua Tobutaba, or Keppel's Island, (usually identified with the Traitor's or Verraders Island

of Schouken and Le Maire) -is about 6 miles long, and 1½ miles broad; very low, and surrounded by a coral reef extending, in some places, a half mile from the beach. II. The North-Eastern

Island.-Tafahi, or Boscawen's Island (also known as the Cocos Island of Le Maire and Schouten), is a steep and

mountainous island, larger than the foregoing, from

which it lies about 15 miles distant to the NE.-

Le Maire and Schouten originally discovered these islands on

the 11th of May, 1616, and arriving at the north-eastern one

named them first Cocos Islands; but, afterwards, inconsequence of an attack principally made upon them by the natives of the natives of the south-western island, they appear to have

changed that designation to Verraders (or Traitor's) Islands. Subsequently both were re-discovered by Wallis (in 1767), when

he named the SW. Island Keppel's Island, and that to the NE. Boscawen's Island. The population of these islands was, in 1839, set down by Commodore Wilkes at 2300 souls,-1000 for Niua Tobutabu, and 1300 for Tafahi ; but a recent visitor states that the population of Niua Tobutabu does not consist of more than 500, and that two or three families only are permanent re-sidents at Tafahi. The people of Niua Tobutabu, however,

frequently go to Tafahi, which is considered to belong to them. Both Niua Tobutabu and Tofahi are nominally subject to the

King of Tonga, and the inhabitants are all Christians of the

Wesleyan sect.

NIUE, (or Nieue, or Savage Island). An island about 30 miles

in circumference, of nearly a circular form, with deep water close to the shore, lying by itself, 4 degrees to the E. of the Tongue Group, four or five days' sail from Rarotonga, and two days' sail from Samoa, in latitude 19- S,, longitude 160¾- W.,

discovered by Captain Cook 20th June, 1774. Its shows is de-scribed as "a steep coral wall." The island is long and low (apparently not more than 200 feet high at any point), flat on the summit, and covered with scrubby trees, no houses or signs of cultivation being visible. The language of Niue, a dialect closely allied to the Samoan, has many of its ordinary words

the same as those of the Maori or New Zealand language. This island is 9 miles in length, from the S. to

NW. point. Its inhabitants are about 400 in number, of whom at least half, in 1854, were professed Christians, under the care of native teachers, sent to them by the London Missionary Society. Some perhaps even yet remain in heathenism, but whether Christian or uncon-verted, the Savage Islanders (in spite of their inauspicious

designation) are, it is confidently believed, much less barbarous

than some of the people who occasionally pay them a visit. NOGOU, T : (or Nuku.) An islet in he reef off the NE. ex-

tremity of Tongatabu, S. of Taou. NOOKOONAMOO, T : (Nukunamo of Erskine.) An islet to the

N. of Lefooga, between Foa and Haano. One of the Habais.

E.R.

(a) Bau (or Mbau or Ambau,) the metropolis of Fiji, is not, strictly speaking, a town of Naviti Levu, being placed on an islet off the SE. corner of that island, in one of its bays. See Bau.

CHINESE BAHBAIUANS.-What will the sympathisers tfor'Ohina say to this?. A great sensation waa, lately caused in the city of Lyons hy the appearance-'in the . streets of a priest, who had his nose,, ears, and right, i hand cut off.i On inquiry it appeared that he was the Abbú üeloc,- missionary to China, and that he had 'arrivea at Lyons, from Marseilles, oh his route to Eennes. where his family resides ; also that thc frightful mutilations he displayed had been inflicted by the savage population of Penang Kiou, which is at the mouth of the Tchou Kiang, at the extremity of China. Four missionaries (his colleagues) were, he states, mutilated in the same manner ns himself, and were then decapitated. He also was to have bee.n put to death, but'was rescued by some English saiL-rs.