158 CORALS A AW CORAL LS LANDS. 



The cliff, though vertical in some parts, is roughly sloping 

 in others, and on the west side the surface of the island 

 gradually declines to the sea. 



The rock is a white and solid limestone, seldom presenting 

 any traces of its coral origin. In some few layers there were 

 disseminated corals, looking like imbedded fossils, along with 

 beautiful casts of shells ; but for the most part it was as com- 

 pact as any ancient limestone, and as uniform in texture. Occa- 

 sionally there were disseminated spots of crystallized calcite. 



The caverns contain coarse stalactites, some of which are 

 six feet in diameter; and interesting specimens were obtained 



METIA, OR Al I C)J A. ISIAND 



containing recent land shells that had been inclosed by a 

 calcareous film while hibernating. 



It is probable that more extensive caverns would have been 

 found had there been more than a few hours for the examina- 

 tion of the island. The Rev. Mr. Williams, in his work on 

 Missionary Enterprises in the Pacific, gives very interesting 

 descriptions of caverns in the elevated coral rock of Atiu, one 

 of the Hervey Group. In one, he wandered two hours, with- 

 out finding a termination to its windings, passing through 

 chambers with "fretwork ceilings of stalagmite and stalactite 

 columns, which, 'mid the darkness, sparkled brilliantly with the 

 reflected torch-light." This author remarks, " that while the 

 madrepores, the brain and every other species of coral are full 

 of little cells, these islands (including those resembling Atiu), 



