LOSAP. — NAMA. 351 



that it has taken place over an extensive area extending from the 

 Pelews to the Poniotus, the greater part of the tropical Pacific,' where we 

 find depths varying from 2000 to 2500 fathoms separating the islands 

 and atolls of the Caroline, Ellice, Gilbert, Marshall, and Paumotu Islands. 

 Such an explanation involves, in addition, the sinking not only of these 

 islands from a comparatively great height, but also the uniform subsidence 

 of the entire belt of deep water indicated by the soundings. Some of 

 these depths reach over 3000 fathoms. 



Pakin ' is about fifteen miles to the westward of Ponapi. It is somewhat 

 crescent-shaped, about five miles long ; the reef flat is less than a mile in 

 width. At Pakin the islands of the land rim are scattered irregularly on 

 the northeastern and eastern reef flat ; they enclose a very indistinct 

 lagoon on the western face. 



'n^ 



Losap. 



Plates 232; 233, fij. 3. 



We passed Losap ^ at a distance of about five mile.s. According to 

 the " Sailing Directions," the atoll has a lagoon of a depth of about 

 sixteen fathoms, with a number of passages leading into it. It consists 

 of a series of low islands, covered with tall trees, rising to a height of 

 from sixty to eighty feet. There is a small secondary lagoon at the 

 northeast end of the atoll. 



Nama. 



Plate 



The island of Nama (D'Urville) consists of a low flat-topped island 

 covered with tall trees ; it has no lagoon. It is somewhat higher than 

 the low atolls of the Carolines and may be a summit of elevated 

 coralliferous limestone. 



1 A. A^assiz, Mem. M. C. Z., Vol. XXVI., No. I, 1902. List of Stations, p. 29. 



2 A. Chart 981. 3 a. Chart 772. 



