AGASSIZ: FIJI ISLANDS AND COltAL KEEFS. 



67 



the whole lagoon is covered with patches of corals and of reef rock, espe- 

 cially in the southern and western parts. The island of A'atu Leile is 

 a mass of elevated limestone rock, rising at the southern extremity to 

 bluffs of about 30 feet on the western side. The series of bluffs forming 





WEST SIDE OF VATU LEILE. 



the western shore gradually increase in heiofht as we so north, where at 

 the most westerly point the bluffs are more than 100 feet in height 

 (Plate 100). 



The hlutfs of the western coast are vertical faces witli rounded summits 

 full of cavities and alternate with short coral sand heaclies. On many 

 parts of the fringing reef edging the west coast there are still left small 

 mushroom-shaped rocks, fragments of elevated limestone rock once form- 







NORTHWEST POINT OF VATU LEILE. 



ing a part of the main island. The northern extremity of the island is 

 full of caves. Judging from the color of the water, the outer slope of the 

 reef flat towards deep water appears to be very gradual. The whole island 

 slopes gently to the eastward, having gradually been denuded and eroded 

 so as to form a low east shore line, with extensive flats off the north- 

 eastern point. The west shore is protected by a fringing coast reef 



