OF THE DEPENDENT ISLES OF TAIWAN. 5 



II. Stratigraphical Characteristics. 



HÔKO ISLAND. 



Hôko or Tai-saii-slio^^ is the largest among the forty-seven 

 islands of the HAko group, having an area of 02.7 square kilo- 

 metres. Its general outline is k-shapeel, curving in at three 

 points in the coves, Fiikibir^ Giu-bo-ken/'' and KAtei.^' The re- 

 lief is simple, low and flat-topped, the maximal elevation being 

 Mount Tai-bu,^^' located nearly at the centre, Avilh a height of 

 only 48 m. The coast is clilTy, interrupted often by sandy flats 

 fringed with coral reefs. 



Idr. Y. Saito has geologically reconnoltered the principal 

 islands of the group during last winter, and has kindly placed at 

 my disposal the written account of his observations, which lam 

 here following in hs main points. 



The island is essentially composed of the Tciilanj Basalts, 

 of which three different flows, poured out after long intervals, 

 are well marked by the intervening tulaccous sedimentaries of a 

 considerable thickness. The topmost fliow caps the surface of 

 butte-like elevations, or makes the flows of extensive ' mesas,' the 

 surface being covered with its eluvial products— a line, ferrugi- 

 nous loam which gradually passes downwards into a blocky 

 loam and then the massive lava. The flow is rather thin, and 

 characteristically columnar. It is frequently wanting in some 

 parts of the island. 



In the irregularly formed strip of land— the Fiikibi-Jiri"' 



n TaUan-Hho (^f.Oj«!«), signifying 'great mountain islet,' is by no means literally true, 



thouuli uniioiibtedly it is the largest of llie whole Pescauorcs. 



-) \)iM'Ji ^!i ^"-tS-^ -i) Vila 3) :J^iitm C) 



