324 CORALS AND CORAL ISLANDS. 
formed from the guano deposits on a coral island, Sombrero, 
in the Caribbean Sea. 
Lord Byron, of the ‘ Blonde,” mentions that phosphate 
of lime (apatite) was collected by him on Mauke, an elevated 
coral island of the Hervey Group, west. of the Society Islands, 
but its exact condition in the rock is not stated. 
Water is to be found commonly in sufficient quantities for 
the use of the natives, although the land is so low and flat. 
They dig wells five to ten feet deep in any part of the dry 
islets, and generally obtain a constant supply. These wells 
are sometimes fenced around with special care; and the 
houses of the villagers, as at Fakaafo, are often clustered 
about them. On Aratica (Carlshoff) there is a. watering 
place fifty feet in diameter, from which vessels of the Wilkes 
Exploring Expedition obtained three hundred and ninety gal- 
lons. The Gilbert Islands are generally provided with a sup- 
ply sufficient for bathing, and each native takes his morning 
bath in fresh water, which is esteemed by them a great lux- 
ury. On Tari-tari (of the Gilbert Group, p. 165), as Mr. 
Horatio Hale, philologist of the same ‘expedition, was in- 
formed by a Scotch sailor by the name of Grey, taken from 
the island, there is a trench or canal several miles long, and 
two feet deep. They have taro plantations (which is possible 
only where there is a large supply of water), and besides some 
bread-fruit. He spoke of the taro as growing to a very large 
size, and as being in great abundance; it was planted along 
each side of the pond. Grey added further that ten ships of 
the line might water there, though the place was not reached 
without some difficulty. There were fish in the pond which 
had been put in while young. The bottom was adhesive like 
clay. These islands have been elevated a little, but are not 
over fifteen feet above the sea. 
