OF THE DEPENDENT ISLES OF TAIWAX. 3 



coral-reefs wliicli stretch from one island to the other, making the 

 shape very much like Thera. The single island of (rio-o, then, 

 corresponds in shajoe and position to that of Tlierasia. Here, how- 

 ever, we look in vain for the active centre of Kaimenis of Santorin. 

 Taking into account the general distriljution of the above-men- 

 tioned islands, and also the bathometrical condition, which the 

 chart, Plate IV plainly shows, it is likely that they form an 

 independent centre of effusion, in contrast to the Southern group 

 (the Rover group), from which this Northern is separated by 

 the Hover Channel, though both sit upon the eastern end of the 

 so-called Formosa Bank, which stretches out hither from the 

 coast of Fokien. The same type of topography seems to prevail 

 throughout the whole group. It is simple, monotonous, flat- 

 topped and low ; the highest prominence scarcely exceeds '16 m. 

 (located at the south-west point of Gio-O), and the land can 

 only be recognised from the sea witbin few miles. The islands con- 

 sequently are wanting in wind-protected harbours, being constantly 

 exposed to the north-east stiff gales during full three-quarters 

 of a year. The land surface is bare, desolate and barren, being 

 entirely destitute of green covering, due, it is said, mainly to 

 the savage violence of the wind, against which even hardy 

 shrubs can not maintain their footing. 



The rain-fall, which the south winds occasionally brings 

 thither during the summer season, is soaked up as soon 

 as it falls on the craggy ground ; and there are scarcely any 

 rivulets that properly deserve the name. The erosive actions 

 of running water thus become totally suspended, and valleys 

 and dales are scarcely to be seen in the interior, but only the 

 butte-like table-land capped with the Basalt-sheet. The deflation 

 alone is instrumental in modelling the topography, and here we 



