74 FOYE. 



(8). Elevated bench of coral and shell debris cast above high-tide 

 level and often cemented into well-bedded limestones. This bench 

 usually gives evidence of seaward growth. 



Fulanga (Figure 37). 



The island of Fulanga lies a few miles to the west of Ongea and 80 

 to 90 miles south of Lakemba. Within an encircling rim of elevated 

 limestone lies a beautiful bay of islands for which Fulanga is noted. 

 These undercut islets of varying sizes number from 300 to 400. The 

 boat passage giving entrance to the bay is but SO yards wide and 

 one or two fathoms deep. Through it passes a strong tidal current, 

 making the entrance very difficult even for small boats. 



The surrounding rim of limestone is breached at several places 

 along its northeastern portion, but elsewhere it is continuous. Form- 

 ing the backbone of this rim is a ridge 125 feet to 250 feet in height 



FULANGA 



Figure 37. Sketch Map of Fulanga. 



with precipitous cliffs on its inner and outer sides. These cliffs are 

 dotted with niches, the remnants of collapsed caves still festooned 

 with stalactites. 



The small islets within the bay vary in height. The larger are 150 

 feet high; the smaller, because of undercutting and solution, rise 

 only a few feet. Between the islets the depths vary from 1 to G fath- 

 oms and at one place somewhat west of the center of the bay, 10 

 fathoms is recorded. J. Stanley Gardiner, (1898, pp. 457 and 471) has 

 referred to the island as an elevated atoll, but as in the case of Wan- 

 gava, the central depression may l)e due to the more rapid erosion in 

 the center of an elevated coral bank. 



The writer visited the outer sifle of the rim along its western shore. 

 Sand Hats extend well up to the foot of the retreating central ridge. 



