SOUTH MAHLOSMADULU. 



385 



Hedufliri is entirely a sandy island with broad beaciies and reef edge 80 — 200 yards away, 

 witli a narrow sandy channel of 1 — 2 feet. The reef on the seaward side has a few rocky masses, so 

 that the land would seem to have at one time extended nearly to this edge of its reef. Kumfinadu 

 is a long, sandy island running out into a rocky point at its seaward end (Fig. 96). Here the island 

 stretches out on to the boulder zone, the edge of tlie reef being only about 3.5 yards from tiie 

 shore. The rock extends for about 70 yards behind the point, and on the reef continues round 

 its seaward end in a series of pinnacles and masses on the boulder zone. Behind these the land 

 shows rapid loss, but against the passages, although Iseach sandstone may occur, there is otherwise 

 little change ; towards the lagoon a sand spit is, if anything, growing out along the reef. 



Fig. 96. The seaward end of Kum- 

 finadu island, showing the rocky 

 point and pinnacles of rock ex- 

 tending round the reef. 



Fig. 97. Hebaridu Island and reef. 



Hebaridu is on most sides at least 200 yards distant from the edge of its reef (Fig. 97). It is 

 formed of sand, and has three spits marked by beach rock extending out to the east. Round this 

 end, particularly in the N.E. corner, the reef has a series of large coral masses 'in and behind its 

 boulder zone, that seem to have once formed part of the land. Mahrus is built up entirely of 

 sand. It is larger than shown in the chart, and in shape roughly oval with a point to seaward, 

 on which are some fallen shrubs and much sand rock. The reef to seaward is about 120 yards 

 broad, and is characterised by its square end. From this the reef slopes inwards, so that its broadest 

 part is that which lies directly against the sea. Round the lagoon half of the island the reef is 

 very narrow, not attaining a greater breadth than 40— .50 yards. 



I have already referred to the sandstone found on tiie shores of Duravandu, another sandy 

 island (p. 345). It occurs principally along the E. and S. sides, the island otherwise showing little 

 change. The reef ofl' the seaward end is about 200 yards broad, and has a well-defined boat channel. 

 In other respects the island and reef do not differ from the last described. Aidu is an oval-shaped 

 island with a crescentic belt of rock around its E. end, the rest of the island l)eing of sand formation. 

 As usual there is washing away on the seaward end and growth towards the lagoon. The IVIabaru 

 islands show that they were once connected together, lines of sandstone extending out along the reef 

 between them. There are also the remains of an outer line of coral rock along the seaward pait 

 of their reef. Mr Forster Cooper, who alone visited this corner of the bank, was of opinion that 

 the sandy area of the original island was formed by a series of gales or cyclones having heaped 

 up the sand on the reef from its lagoon side. Each storm formed a ridge of sand, and the island 

 accordingly was extended lagoonwards by a series of leaps alternating with periods of rest. 



