with grass, coconuts and large clumps of casuarinas. The coconuts and grass land runs well up the east slope of the central elevation. Off the east point of Susu lie two small islets, the larger one (190') with a small grove of coconuts, and the smaller (80') rising more abruptly with rocky slopes and covered by casuarinas. About a quarter of a mile north of the smaller islet is a patch of shoal water. Taken as a whole Vanua Mbalavu and its three closely adjacent islets forms a large, slender S. (backwards) or perhaps better a large figure 2. The central portion is predominately volcanic, while the tapering extremities are largely coral limestone. Munia is an elongate volcanic island about 2 1/4 by 7/8 miles with a central ridge which rises to 950 feet elevation. Most of the lower slopes have been cleared and planted to coconut palms. The upper slopes, which are in places precipitous, still retain a cover of native forest. A fringing reef nearly surrounds the island and it is connected with the main barrier reef, which surrounds the entire "Exploring Group," at its south end. Ashore at 7 A.M. and met Mr. H. H. Steinmetz, the owner. He is a most interesting man. Despite his name he is thoroughly British. Very well in- formed despite 45 years isolation in Fiji, he having come to the group from England in March 1879. He is, in contrast to most people in this climate energy and system personified. Ho is noted for having a place for everything and everything in its place. With him to his neat and comfortable homestead, and deciding that I could learn more from the man than from the island, which is essentially like the others in flora, fauna and general topography, spent most of the day with him. Watched him take his 9 A.M. metrological observations, barometer, wind, rainfall and temperature. He has these recorded twice a day, in one form or another for nearly forty years a most valuable record. He turns his data over to the Department of Agriculture at Suva, who publish it with their own.