Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume VII.djvu/117

 FEEJEE ISLANDS 109 performed will defeat the estate, or the per- formance of which is necessary to preserve the estate, or the performance or occurrence of which is necessary to vest estate. But these three phrases are not definable with exact ac- curacy, and are sometimes used one for the other. Fee tail is a law term of more precise meaning. It is derived from the Norman French word tattler, to cut, because it is a lesser estate of inheritance cut or carved out of the fee simple ; and it exists where a con- veyance or devise is made to a person named and the heirs of his body or some specified class of the heirs of his body, as for instance the heirs male or heirs female of his body, or the heirs of his body begotten of his then wife. The difference between this and a fee simple is at once perceived, for while the latter on the owner's death will pass by descent to his heirs general, who may be collateral relatives, the former will descend only in the line indicated by the instrument creating the estate. For- merly the understanding was that the grantee of an estate tail had only a life interest, and could convey no more ; but afterward means were devised by which he might convey a fee, and this in the hands of his grantee would necessarily be a fee simple. The usual mode of doing this was the process of suffering a com- mon recovery, but by statute 3 and 4 William IV., c. 74, the same result may be accomplished by an ordinary deed of conveyance duly en- rolled. Legislation of a similar nature has also been adopted for Ireland and Scotland. In the United States estates tail have had no practical existence since the revolution. In some of the states they are wholly unknown. In others they become at once, by force of statutory provisions, estates in fee simple. In others a tenant in fee tail bars the entail by a simple conveyance in fee simple. In yet others, and they are numerous, they are simply abolished by statute, without any reservation whatever. FEEJEE (Fyi, or Viti) ISLANDS, a group in the South Pacific ocean, between lat. 15 30' and 20 30' S., and Ion. 176 50' E. and 178 20' W. Feejee is the name in the windward, and Viti in the leeward part of the group. There are some 225 islands, of which about 140 are inhabited. The population is estimated at 250,000, of whom 4,000 are whites. Viti Levu, or Naviti Levu, is the largest and most popu- lous of the group ; it is about 64 m. from N. to S. and 97 from E. to W. Suva harbor is free from shoals, well sheltered, and of easy ingress and egress. The best known towns on this island are Namena, Ndawasamu, Tova, Nakorotubu, Rakiraki, Tavua, Mba, Namoli, Nandy, Vunda, Vitogo or Veitiri, Mbetarau- rau, Nandroga, Ndeumba, and Suva. Vanua Levu (Great island), generally called Vuya by its inhabitants, ranks next to Viti Levu, and is 69 m. N. of Bau, a small island on the E. side of the latter, from which distances in the group are reckoned ; it is 115 m. long from E. N. E. to W. S. W., and on an average 25 m. broad. The principal towns of Vanua Levu are Mbua, Ndama, Navave, Solevi, Navatu, Nasavusavu, Undu, Namuka, Mathuata, Eaviravi, and Wailea. The bay of Nasavusavu, 10 m. long by 5 broad, is surrounded by very high and broken land, rising in many places into lofty needle-shaped peaks; behind them several other high peaks reach to about 4,000 ft. A considerable stream of fresh water enters the bay, and a mile below on the beach are hot springs, which are continually steaming. The rock in the neighborhood is compact coral and volcanic breccia. The water has a faint smell of sulphur and a strong saline taste. The na- tives use the springs to boil their food, which is done by covering them with leaves and grass, when rapid ebullition ensues in the pre- viously quiescent water. Taviuni, commonly but erroneously called by the white residents Vuna or Somosomo, is the third island in size and importance ; it is about 24 m. long and 9 m. broad, and 5 m. S. E. of Vanua Levu. The whole island is one vast mountain, 2,052 ft. high, and very fertile. On the top is a lake containing an abundance of large eels. The principal towns on it are Somosomo, Vuna, Weilangi, Wainikeli, and Mbouma. Kadavu or Kandavu is a large, populous, and well wooded island, 69 m. S. S. W. of Bau and 48 m. from the nearest point of Viti Levu ; it is 32 m. long, and averages 4 m. in breadth. On the west is a small bay, Malatta, which offers temporary anchorage, but it is difficult to enter on account of reefs. Westward of Ma- latta is Tavutha bay, frequented by whalers. E. of Kadavu, and between it and the island of Ono, is a well protected harbor. The Mbuki- leru mountain is very high. Another popu- lous island is Gau or Ngau, 13 m. long and 4 broad, 38 m. E. of Bau. The reef extends a mile and a half off the N". E. point, and several miles off the S. side, but is close to the island on the east, where there are several openings, but none fit for anchorage. There is good holding ground in the bay opposite the town of Lakemba. Other towns on this island are Sawayake (the chief town), Nakumbuna, Na- waikama (at which there are hot springs), Nakorowaro, Levuka, Ourata, Nathavanandi, Lekanai, Nggarani, and Vioni. Koro (mean- ing " a town ") is a very fine island, 9 m. long by 4 wide, 59 m. N. E. of Bau, with an anchorage on the N. W. side. The chief towns are Wailevu or Sithila, Tangandrenga, Thawa- levu, Nasau, Waitaya, and Korolailai. Mo- ala, a high volcanic island, about 4 m. wide by 8 long, 86 m. E. S. E. of Bau, has several towns, among them Navathunimasi and Tha- kova. The reef on the N. side of Moala is a collection of sunken and detached patches ; that on the N. E. extends 2-J- m. ; to the westward are several passages through the reef, quite safe with a favorable wind. Ovalau, a mountain- ous island about 20 m. from Bau, 8 m. long N. and S., and 7 m. broad, is of volcanic forma- tion, and its rocks are composed of a conglom-