28 



J. STANLEY GARDINER. 



would appear to be extremely rough, great masses of rock, oif which the lead drops some- 

 times for an additional 3 to 5 fathoms. 



The chief island, called Minikoi throughout this paper, extends from the north point 

 right down the east and south sides of the atoll for a distance of six miles. It is only 

 about 50 yards broad to the north, but gradually increases further south, attaining at its 

 centre a breadth of 750 yards. In the latter position a prominent point, Mou-Rambu, 



Fig. 6. Minikoi Atoll {slightly altered from the Adiiuralty Chart). The rocky area of the land is shaded, the 

 boulder zone dotted, and the 100 fathom line is shown. A — G, positions of the sections in Fig. 7. 



extends to the south-east, and on the opposite lagoon-shore the only village of the atoll 

 is situated. Proceeding southwards Minikoi varies in breadth between 300 and 600 yards, 

 ending with a small horn, extending north for 200 yards into the lagoon. This horn is 

 the only bank in the atoll, which may be supposed to have been formed by sand and 

 detritus swept over the reef. 



On the seaward face from the north end to Mou-Rambu point the reef is very narrow, 

 and indeed can scarcely be said to exist. It then gradually broadens to the west point 

 of Minikoi island, where it passes into the reef-flat of the west and north sides of the 

 atoll. The island itself merges into a well-marked boulder zone on the same reef, on 

 which the small island of Wiringili arises at a distance of half a mile. The reef retains 



