Difficultij of landing on Sikayana. 605 



had an opportunity of observing the configuration of which all 

 known atolls furnish examples, viz. that the islands found 

 adjoining these reefs are almost invariably at the projecting 

 extremities, where the surf rages on either side, and where con- 

 sequently the conditions are most favourable for the heaping up 

 of detached fragments of coral. The area of habitable dry 

 land is to the extent of the reef in the proportion of 1 : 21. 

 As may readily be assumed from the physical conditions of 

 the islands, there is no drinkable water to be found upon 

 them; the liquid contents of the cocoa-nut when fresh is 

 almost the only beverage of the inhabitants, and hence the 

 first thing the natives asked for when they came on board 

 was for some ''drinking-water," since, except of course dur- 

 ing the wet season, when they catch the rain water, this is 

 a rarity with them — we might almost say an article of luxury. 

 Sikayana, the Big Island of the English, the most easterly 

 and largest of the islands, is about Hth statute mile in length, 

 and lies in 8° 22' 24" S., and 163'^ 1' E. The reef which 

 surrounds the island sinks at certain points sheer downwards, 

 so that a ship may in perfect safety approach within a cable's 

 length. We had to sail for a considerable time along this line 

 of reef, on which the sea beat with a thundering surf, ere we 

 came to one of those spots on the N. W. side where it is prac- 

 ticable in a boat to pass the atoll reef into the tranquil lagoon, 

 which it encloses. At all times, even in the calmest weather, 

 a tremendous surf roars against the reef, and even this point 

 is inaccessible when there is a fresh breeze blowing. Here 



