Journal of Edwin H. Bryan, Jr. while with the Whitney Expedition of the American Museum of Natural History on the schooner France, February to October 1924
Page 845
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Transcription
of the Jubilee. Up trail behind Levuka which leads over the pass to Lovoni, as far as the summit. The trail leads up a fertile valley of the Makiki type, shallow, steep and "V" shaped, there being many rapids and small falls in the stream which is crossed and followed by the trail. Caught quite a number of in- sects and a frog. Roll 74:1 Scene along trail, where it rises up a cliff face by a fall. (11595) The last part of the rise is steep, zig-zagging over the lowest part of the ridge. Roll 74:2 and 3 Looking down valley toward Levuka from the summit. (11596-7) Roll 74:4 Looking into Lovoni and Bureta from the summit. (11598) The center of Ovalau is a deep basin surrounded by high ridges, drain- ing out to the W.S.W. through the Bureta river. The surrounding ridges are forested on their lower slopes which are covered with grass, ferns and high weeds especially Köster's curse. A broad stream - the Bureta River, drains the basin, finding its source in numerous valleys. There are two large clumps of Levuana browned coconut palms - conspicuous against the green floor and between them scattered patches of palms, along the stream. The village of Lovoni is located on the bank of the stream, in the south-central portion of the basin. The other village - Bureta, is out of sight down the gap. The principal vegetation on the nearby hills, in the vicinity of the pass, consists of the banana-like plant found so commonly in Samoa, tree and other ferns, and a moderately open stand of rainforest trees - few exceeding 18 to 25 feet in height. The ridge drops away steeply on its west side into the basin. Along the trail are numerous weeds and a few cultivated patches, principally taro. In the far distance rise the high, pointed peaks of north-eastern Viti