104 NOTES ON THE CAVES OF FIJI, 



To summarise, then, it seems probable that : — 



(a) The limestone fringing the shores of Viti Levu is mostly of 

 stratified and shelly character, with ran ly intercalated reefs. 



(One such reef only was observed by us at the Singatoke 

 River, and several at Walu Bay and Tamavua.^') 



The caves of Viti Levu exist in rocks possessing most pro- 

 nounced dips, varying from 1U° to 20° in amount. 



(/3) The Lau limestone is of later origin than the bedded Viti 

 Levu deposits, as shown at Bai Vatu where coral reefs form 

 thin crusts only on thick bedded masses of limestone indistin- 

 guishable in litholoofical characteristics from those at the mouth 

 of the Singatoke River. 



The Lau caves occur in compact, hard limestone formed of 

 corals, shells and calcareous algae and exhibiting no bedding 

 planes. 



(y) The Viti Levu caves appear to possess an origin similar to 

 that of caves existing in continental areas, where seolian agencies 

 have been the designers. 



(5) The Lau caves appear to have been determined by coral 

 growths and submarine action, and owe their stalactitic growths 

 to influences acting subsequently to their elevation above sea 

 level. 



F. — Description of Access to Caves. 



Frequently the entrances to the caves occur in the faces of the 

 cliffs as apertures, invisible, except on close inspection, by reason 

 of the rough nature of the rock and the mantle of vines and 

 shrubs that invariably accompany the raised limestone areas. 

 Others again are approachable only by descending one of the 

 deep cracks that intersect the limestone in all directions. 



It is impossible for one unaccustomed to similar sights to 

 appreciate either the roughness of the raised reefsf or the dense 

 growths that cover them. 



* J. S. Gardiner, Proc. Cambridge Phil. Soc. Vol. ix. 1898, p. 425. 

 t A. Agassiz, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard Coll. Vol, xxxiii. PI. 98. 



