Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1905-07-11
FINDING A LOST COMMENT
LIGHT THROWN ON THE ORIGIN
OF THE SOUTH SEA ISLANDS.

sive Continent.
Among those familiar with the is
lands OF the Western Pacific there
prevails a widely spread convicUon
that many, if not the whole, of them
constitute the remains of an extern
sive continent of which Australasia
formed a portion. The geological
changes producing such a result must
have been of most stupendous char
acter.
In Australia sea shells are found in
abundance, both on the loftiest noun
tain ranges and in the great centrai
plains, which, in places, furnish indi-
cations of having been at one time
the beds of large volumes of sea
water. In 1901 DR.. Woolnough, of
Sydney, during the course of a geo
logical exploring expedition in F1pr
discovered an extensive area of gran.
tie and diorite rock in the heart or
VIII Levu, the main island, which led
him to the conclusion that the Ffjiar
group formed the outlying remnant
of a once far larger continent, which
probably extended from Australia By
way of New Caledonia to Fiji.
Subsequently the Royal Society,
london, voted sum of ESQ toward
the cost of another expedition, anu
the amount being largely supplement-
ed from other sources, DR.. Wool
nough, accompanied by Mr.. E. J.
Goddard, of Sydney University, left
Sydney several weeks ago for the
purpose of renewing his investiga-
lions at the point where they had
ceased on the former occasion.
According to Prof. David, of Sgd
nev University, Viii Leyu, the main
island of the Fijian group, is sub
circular, with picturesque ranges of
rugged volcanic mountains, over four
thousand feet in height, toward its
center. It is covered, for the most
part, with luXuriant tropical vegeta-
ton, so dense that an expedition is
travefsing it to cut path through
the nigh reeds, canes and tangled I'M
dergrowth.
The island measures about sixty
five miles from north to south and
one hundred miles from east to west.
1t is drained chiefly by couple of
rivers-the Rewa on the east, flow
ing from northeast to southwest.
The plan of these rivers is something
like the letter A, tributary stream,
the Wai-nimaia, forming a portion of
the cross bar.
1t was at this point that the real
difficulties of the expedition began.
DR.. Woolnough, in letter just re-
ceived in Sydney, saying:
The current was simply terrific,
and although l have had some pre-
vious experience of canoeing, would
never have believed it possible to
force a boat of any kind against such
a stream. The current simply ripped
along, curling over submerged bOul-
ders and breaking in lines of foam
over those which reached the sur
face. The rapids, besides, were be-
set with jagged snags. The skill of
the native boatmen was wonderful,
and partly by polling, partly by pad
ding, they brought us safely through
to the town of Serea."
After reaching Serea all further
travelling had to be performed ON
foot, bullocks being employed for car
rying the baggage, and a party OF
ten Fijians forming an escort. The
country here is an extensive plateau,
about 1,500 feet above sea level and
covered with almost inpenetrable
tropical vegetation, with lofty hills
in places. A winding journey of
something like 10 miles had to be
made before DR.. Woolnough's intend
ed destination could be reached,
swollen mountain streams having fire.
quently to be crossed. A large por-
ton of the track was so Doggy that
the explorers were continually sink
ing over their ankles, and occasional
ly up to their knees.
The journey was continued at times
long after dark, the atmosphere being
somewhat cooler, but the track was
in places illumined by numerous bril-
liant f1re-dies, while the perfumes
emitted by many of the bush plants
were simply delicious. Hot springs,
relics of former volcanic activity,
were occasionally met with, and sew
eral specimens of fresh water crusta-
cea, belonging to the genus paraneph-
rops, secured.
At last the Sigatoke was reached,
and here DR.. Woolnough discovered
extensive areas of granite, diorite,
and schist, thus confirming his ear
lier opinion as to the existence of
continental rocks in Fiji view con-
siderably strengthened by the nature
of the plants and animals found on
the island. Subsequently, with the
assistance of a high chief, Buke Levu,
an old volcano was assembled. The
climb was a most difficult one, a
track having to be cut nearly the
whole of the way. When the summit
was 1eached the explorers found they
had left their matches behind, but
the chief speedily made a fire drill
with two pieces of wood. The dis
covery of the extensive existence of
continental rocks has encouraged the
hope that gold and other minerals of
commercial value will be found in
the group. 1t is not improbable that
the success achieved by Dr. Wool
nough may encourage further inves-
tigation with a view to throwing
some light on the origin of the South
Sea Islands and their peoples, a prob
lem which may never become fully
soIved.-LOndon Globe.
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