tongatAbu. 



191 



summit, and the terraces of the south point ; they are clearly visible at a 

 distance of ten miles. The island of Eiia iki is also flat-topped, and ter- 

 raced as seen from the north point of Eua. 



There is no outcrop of coralliferous limestone on the great flat south of 

 Nukualofa. On leaving our anchorage at Nukualofa^ we passed the island 

 of Boloa, which rises to a height of over sixty feet, and where the undercut 

 ledges probably represent fragments of cliffs belonging to the second ter- 

 race. We also passed the island of Alakibetiu, which is somewhat lower 

 than Boloa ; at Atata, where the second terrace is very distinct, but deeply 

 undercut, the top of the island has been rounded and huge crevasses and 



Native Hut near Nukualofa, Tongatabd. 



cracks cut into the face of the vertical cliffs. To the north of Egeria 

 Channel extends a long reef flat, the outer edge of which is plainly marked 

 by its line of bi'eakers. A number of islets are also seen between Atata 

 and the outer edge of the reef flat ; this seems to be a series of huge sand 

 banks connecting the south spit of Atata with the eastern edge of the 

 reef flat to the south of Egeria Channel and to the east of Niu Aunofo 

 Point. Another islet south of Egeria Channel is the small narrow island 

 of Tufaka, with its undercut ledge like that of Atata. After passing out of 



1 A. Cliart. 2363. 



