The Fiji Islands and Coral Beefs. By Alexandek Agassiz. 



INTRODUCTION. 



On our arrival in Suva tiie first day of November, 1897, we found the 

 " Yaralla," a twin screw steamer of about five hundred tons, chartered 

 from the Australasian United Steam Navigation Company, awaiting us. 

 The boat proved admirably suited for our purpose, the managing agent 

 of the company at Brisbane, Mr. Elliot Bland, and Captain Downs, of 

 Sydney, having spai'ed no pains in fitting her out. 



Previous to our departure I shipped to Australia our outfit for 

 dredging, sounding, and deep-sea towing, as well as all the materials 

 necessary for preserving our collections. This equipment we found 

 safely stored in the " Yaralla." Dr. W. McM. Woodworth and Dr. A. G. 

 Mayer accompanied me as assistants. Dr. Woodworth and my son 

 Maximilian have taken a large number of photographs illustrating the 

 physiognomy of the islands and reefs. Dr. Woodworth devoted his 

 time in part to the care of the Worms, and Dr. Mayer to the Acalephs 

 of Fiji. 



I have to thank the State Department at Washington for their kind 

 offices in obtaining for me letters from the British Foreign Office to 

 the Government of Fiji. Sir George O'Brien, the High Commissioner 

 of the Western Pacific, gave us all possible facilities for visiting the 

 different islands of the group. I am also indebted to the Hon. J. 

 Stewart, Colonial Secretary, and to the Hon. W. L. Allardyce, Assistant 

 Native Commissioner, for assistance and advice. To Dr. Corney and 

 the Hon. John Berry I owe information of value regarding the existence 

 of elevated reefs at points I have not examined. To Captain Calder, the 

 agent of the Australasian United Steam Navigation Company at Fiji, I 

 am greatly indebted for his exertions on our belialf. Finally, Captain 

 R. Cocks, our pilot, and Captain Thomson, as well as the officers and 

 crew of the " Yaralla," were indefatigable in promoting our inter- 

 ests. I have also to thank specially Sir William C. Van Home and 

 Mr. T. G. Shaughnessy, the President and Vice President of the Cana- 

 dian Pacific Railway, for placing at our disposal a j^rivate car from 



