AGASSIZ: FIJI ISLANDS AND CORAL REEFS. 



37 



of the island from the narrow outer reef flat. "We also passed the atoll 

 of Thakau Vuite (Plate 22), separated from Korao by a channel of 

 about one and a half miles in width, with a probable depth of about 

 150 fathoms. The lagoon is about two 

 miles and three quarters long by two 

 miles broad, with a greatest depth of six- 

 teen fathoms ; thei-e is an opening for 

 boats into the lagoon on the northwest side. The encircling reef flat 

 narrow, and there is a sand key on the northeast horn of the 



OLORUA. 



IS 



lagoon. 



Totoya. 



Plates 19% Figs 4-7, and Plates 23, 66-69. 



Before entering the western passage through the outer reef surround- 

 ing Totoya, we steamed round the eastern and northern edges of the 

 outer reef to obtain a good idea of this interesting islands Totoya 

 (Plate 23) is triangular in shape, enclosing an inner basin, nearly circu- 

 lar, of three miles in diameter, and with a greatest depth of 35 fathoms. 

 The width of the rim varies from two miles to a low narrow isthmus 

 on the western face (Plate 66), the highest points of the rim being 

 1,200 feet above sea level. The eastern part of the rim is the broadest 

 and highest. The basin is open to the south (Plate 67), the horns of 

 the rim being about two miles distant. Stretching across this opening is 

 the extension of the outer reef, which connects at the extremities of the 



BASIN OF TOTOYA CRATER, FROM THE SU-MMIT OF THE NORTHERN KIM. 



rim with the narrow fringing reef bordering the island. Between the edge 

 of the frins:ins: reef on the western horn and the outer reef there is a nar- 

 row but deep passage called the " Gullet " (25 fathoms), affording a good 

 entrance into the basin filling the extinct crater of Totoya, in which we 

 anchored close to the inner edge of the northern part of the rim. The 

 outer reef extends unbroken from the entrance on the west side to its 



