290 CORALS AND CORAL LSLANDS. 



high. Whether elevated or not is uncertain ; probably as 

 much so as Fakaafo. 



g. Scattered islands farther norths near the equator, east of 

 the Gilbert Group. 



Of the Fanning Group, Washington Island, in lat. 4° 41' 

 S., and 160° 15' W., is three miles in diameter, and is without 

 a proper lagoon ; the whole surface is densely covered with 

 cocoanut and other trees. The height of the land is ten or 

 twelve feet. The unusual size of the island for one without a 

 lagoon, and the luxuriance of the forest vegetation, are probable 

 evidence of some elevation, but not beyond three feet. 



Palmyra Island, north-east of Washington, is described by 

 Fanning as naving two lagoons, the westernmost with twenty 

 fathoms water. 



Fanning' s Island, south-east of Washington, according to the 

 same voyager, is lower than that island. The accounts give no 

 evidence of elevation in either Fanning's or Palmyra. 



Christmas Island, 'vi\\2X. 1° 53' N., 157° 32' W., is thirty 

 miles long, and is described by Cook as having the rim of 

 land in some parts three miles wide. He speaks of narrow 

 ridges lying parallel with the sea-coast, which " must have 

 been thrown up by the sea, though it does not reach within a 

 mile of some of these places." The proof of elevation is de- 

 cided, but its amount is uncertain. The account of J. D. 

 Bennett (Geogr. Jonrn., vii. 226) represents it as a low coral 

 island. 



Jarvis's Island, in 0° 22' S., and 159° 58' W., is, ac- 

 cording to J. D. Hague, eighteen to twenty-eight feet in 

 height, which would indicate an elevation of at least eight 

 or ten feet. (See further, page 248.) 



Maiden's, in 4° 15' S., 155° W\, two hundred and fifty 

 miles south-east of Jarvis, visited by Lord Byron, is described 

 by him as not gw^x forty feet high. It is ten miles long. 



Starbucks or Hero Island, in 5° 40' S., 155° 55' W., is an 

 elevated lagoon island ; but the amount of elevation is not 

 stated. Like Jarvis's, it contains a large deposit of gypsum, 

 but not much guano. — (J. D. Hague.) 



