20. THE HOT SPRING OF NDREKE-NI-WAI ON THE SOUTH COAST OF NATEWA BAY.—This small spring issues between the tide-marks from an old reef-patch close to the shore and is only to be seen at low-water. Its temperature in May, 1898, was 130-135° Fahr.
21. THE HOT SPRING OF WAIKATAKATA ON THE SOUTH COAST OF NATEWA BAY.—This important spring lies about four miles east of the town of Natewa. It issues on a hill-slope about 400 yards from the beach and is some 25 or 30 feet above the sea; but it is so beset by undergrowth that the source is not easy to reach. Boulders and blocks of a basaltic rock lie about on the slope; and it is from under a huge boulder of five or six tons in weight that the spring emerges at a temperature of 148° Fahr. (April, 1898). There is a good volume of water, and a series of bathing pools of varying temperature could be readily made. Unlike most of the inland hot springs, it is not in connection with a stream or river.
22. THE HOT SPRING OF NDEVO ON THE COAST OPPOSITE TO RAMBI.—I did not hear of any spring when in the locality; but I learned afterwards that near a stream on the beach there is a hot spring which is covered at high tide.
23. THE HOT SPRING OF NAVUNI NEAR FAWN HARBOUR.—This small spring is situated in a hilly district in a region where olivine-basalts prevail. I was indebted to Mr. Pickering for showing me its locality. It lies about three-quarters of a mile inland and about 100 feet above the sea. It issues from the volcanic agglomerate a few paces from the right bank of the Navuni stream and five or six feet above its level. In May, 1898, it had a temperature of 112-113° Fahr.
This island is therefore remarkable for the number of its hot springs. In the list given on page 40 I have enumerated 23 localities where they occur; but, as shown below, their number will probably in time be extensively increased.
On referring to the map it will be observed that the distribution of these springs is fairly general over two-thirds or three-fourths of the island. Taking this area at about 1,500 square miles and dividing it into squares with sides of eight miles, we should, if the springs were quite evenly dispersed, find a thermal system in every square. Even amongst the Fijians and among the white residents the number of hot springs will cause surprise. Only those of Savu-savu, Wainunu, Nukumbolo, Mbatini-kama, and Na Kama on the Wailevu river have been up to this time generally known. The reason of this is that most of them are insignificant, and with a temperature far below the boiling-point, and ooze up in unlikely and out-of-the way places, as by the water-side in little visited river-valleys, on the reef-flats of not much frequented coasts, and in swampy situations where they are likely to be overlooked. The natives only recognise as “Na Kama” the boiling or very hot springs; and it was only after much questioning that I could get them to tell me of some unimportant “wai katakata” (hot water) which they deemed to be far beneath my notice. The natives were keenly interested in my botanical and geological investigations; but they considered it to be beneath the dignity of a man who had seen the wonders of Na Savu-savu to spend some time looking for a half-forgotten thermal spring in a swamp. From this cause alone I no doubt failed to find several springs. All the boiling springs and those of very high temperature are probably known; but as is pointed out below it is more than likely that a large number of unimportant springs remain to be discovered in many a deserted inland valley and between the tide-marks along the very extensive reef-bound coasts.