FADIFOLU. 



397 



In connection with the last question I more particularly investigated the passage next 

 north of Naifaro. which owing to points having grown out from the reefs on either side 

 is narrowest at its extreme seaward end. The passage has, it should be observed, a bend 

 in the centre off the south end of Madewaru island, the foundation reef of which extends 

 relatively further south than marked on the lagoon side. Within a few yards of the reefs 

 on either side of this passage I got depths of 13, 14 and 15 fathoms with a depth in 

 the absolute centre (both in its length and breadth) of the channel of 19 fathoms, which 

 apparently continued without decrease to the floor of the atoll-lagoon. Going outwards, 

 however, the bottom rises to a line with 12 — 13 fathoms along the seaward edge of the 



JL 



Difuri 



'Hudufuri 



Fig. 103. Fadifolu Atoll, considerably altered from the Admiralty Chart, with which it should be compared. 



passage between the points of the reef. In the middle and inner part of the channel, 

 especially near the reefs, a fauna consisting of Dendrophyllia, Gorgonians, Alcyonaceans, 

 sponges, etc. was obtained without difficulty, the bottom being relatively smooth. Along the 

 outer ridge on the other hand dredging was difficult on account of the large, heavy coral 

 masses, but a quantity of the material covering the bottom was secured. Among it some 

 of the ordinary reef corals were found growing, but the greater part consisted of dead coral, 

 held together by sponges, Tunicates, Polyzoa and more particularly Lithothamnion. Much of 



51—2 



