Buka And Its Beauty.

Written for “The Pacific Islands Monthly'’ by A.G.E. —a girl resident of Buka, T.N.G.

BUKA, which is the most northerly of the Solomon Islands, lies to the north of Bougainville, from which it is separated by a narrow strait known as Buka Passage. It is considered one of the prettiest of districts in the Solo mon Group.

Buka has many ranges, the highest of which is about 1,300 feet. The island it self is approximately 60 miles in length —i.e., from Buka at one end, to Kessa Plantation at the other extreme end.

At the northern end of Buka there are a number of coral islands lying off the west and south coasts. On these islands, and on the west coast of Buka, there are numerous plantations. The princi pal harbour is Queen Caroola.

Leaving Kessa, and coming round the west coast by boat, the trip is a very interesting one, passing the many low lying coral islands and a few plantations on the way; and then round Cape Horn (this is only a name given by one of the planters of Buka and is not shown on the chart under this name).

Turning to the left, you enter Buka Passage, which is between six and seven miles in length. To pass through Buka Passage means winding in and out among many picturesque coral reefs — not the usual brown-coloured ones, but all the most beautiful shades in reds and pinks, and many shades of orange and mauve. Little fishes of magnificent hues dart in and out among the coral and seaweed. Scattered here and there are numerous islands, lying like gorgeous emeralds on the unruffled sea.

After continuing along for about four and a half miles, one comes to the is land of Sohana, the Government Station, and on which are the Sohana Golf Links, covered with the ever-green clover. The lovely golden-shaded Calliposis grows down the edges of jagged cliffs. The homes of the Government folk nestle amongst crotons of every hue —a very beautiful scene.

Passing on, one comes opposite Bonis Plantation, on Bougainville, with the usual Kong and graceful coconut palms, behind which is the towering peak of Mt. Balbee. On the opposite side are scattered here and there a few native villages.

Then comes the point of Hahaiea, where one looks out over the prismatic brilliance of the sea, to the edge of the far horizon, and the white surf break ing on the reefs of the Passage. The towering peaks of Bougainville look down on the island of Buka —just a mass of dark serrated hills, below which a white line of dying waves disappears in long ripples of smoky foam.

Now, back again to Cape Horn, and round to the right into the calm and placid waters of Matchin Bay—scarcely less magnificent than the Passage, with the many small and large islands dotted here and there. To the west of these, nestling in calm seclusion, on the shore of the beautiful bay—an oasis of palms in the desert of blue haze —lies Soraken and to this place comes the latest and most up-to-date of Burns, Philp’s steamers the "Macdhui”, always crowded with tourists, to view the bleached coral beaches and magnificent reefs of these parts.

It is strange that so picturesque a place as Buka Passage is so little known by the outside world.