SUVADIVA ATOLL. 411 



for a distance of about 1 mile, the greater part a sand-flat. The channel to Mandu is considerably 

 broader than that to the N. of the Kudu reef, which seemed correctly cliarted. 



Of the lagoon islands Kendera is sandy with low shrubs, and Mageli and Labadu sandy 

 with tall coconuts or other trees. Hatedu shoal is much enlarged to the W., and appeared to 

 enclose a small shallow velu ; the island, wliich is of sand with low bushes and a few coconut trees 

 is washing away on tiie W. side. The Budu reef has grown W.N.W. and E.S.E., a shoal in the 

 latter position having become joined up to it. The passage to the S. of Kuradu appeared narrower 

 than in the chart, and we could tind no shoal as therein shown. 



Nilandu is a sandy island, at present changing very little, situated about 250 yards behind 

 the seaward edge of its reef, on which the boulder zone is, as usual, clearly defined. The seaward 

 shore has much rock, and a few bushes are undermined ; lines of the beach rock show that the 

 land once extended at least 120 yards further E. on its sand-flat. The passages, both N. and S., 

 are much reduced in size, the latter by an outgrowth of Nilandu reef. Two horns from the reef, 

 too, have extended out considerablj' into the lagoon at right angles to the general contour of the 

 rim, and there is a velu with 5 — 6 fathoms on the S.W. side of the island. Of this there is no 

 trace in the chart, the positions of the soundings on which most decidedly point to its non-existence 

 when the survey was made. The lagoon reef is ill-defined, and has in most places 1 — 2 fathoms 

 of water with a wide opening to the S., only an odd coral mass here and there reaching the surface; 

 off it tlie slope is gradual, with bare patches of sand. The velu itself has little coral growth, but 

 there is a fairly marked line of Goniastraea and Pontes colonies against the woody sand-flat of the 

 island. 



Most of the islands on to Kondai, our next iialting-place, are eroding on their lagoon shores 

 but there are no marked changes in either land or reefs. Dandu reef is as shown, but the shoal 

 off the same is situated further to the N. ; the island is of sand with rock to the E., and has 

 fused with the next island. We could see no trace of the southern of the two passages between 

 Mamadu and Hura Mula, and the N. one had broken water right across its centre, indicating 

 an upgrowth ; the S. reef of the latter passage too has sent out a very distinct point to the N. 

 The three channels between Mamadu and the Kondai reef were all clear, but the waves occasionally 

 broke across the central one. All the islands had tall coconuts, but the four islands N. of Kondai 

 on the same reef had been reduced to three by the fusion of the two southern. 



Kondai is a sand island with a- little beach rock to the S., above which is found a cliff" of 

 3 feet and a few fallen shrubs. All loss is on the S. and W. sides, the island being protected 

 by its broad reef to seaward. Due E. starting from the broad sandy beach of the island is a sand- 

 flat, 250 yards across. The first 60 yards of this is covered with sand and weed. The area from 

 60 to 120 yards from the beach is almost a solid flat of dead Heliopora, just covered at low tide; 

 a few colonies, however, were found to be still living towards the outside, where the zone merges 

 into a rougher area continuing out to 210 yards. This has about 1^ feet of water, and is a flat 

 with much dead and rotting coral, in addition to low living colonies of Porites arenosa, P. palmata and 

 Pocillopora suffruticosa, Madrepora only commencing towards its outer side ; weed is' scarce but there 

 is much sponge-growth and many Holothurians. The bottom now, 210 — 250 yards, slopes up to the 

 boulder zone ; living colonies of coral become scarce and weed commences, but there are many large, 

 decaying masses of Porites arenosa. The masses of the boulder zone are small, and lie loose on 

 a solid, smooth rock-flat, the inner part of the next area ; on the whole tiie zone is ill-defined, 

 and is broken at about every 70 yards by channels, through which the sea rushes on to the sand- 

 flat. Beyond this again lies the reef-flat, which is much pitted for 20 yards out and almost bare 

 In the next 30 yards to the reef edge colonies of Madrepora, Prionastraea, Moittipora, Leptoria, 

 Astraea, Orhicella and Goniastraea were identified. Fissures run in for 20 yards, but they are about 



G. 53 



