PHYSIOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY OF THE ISLANDS. 9 



breached on its south side, giving access to the sea. The outer 

 entrance to this crater is between high perpendicular cliffs of rock 

 on the west side, and a lofty dome-shaped rock, some rocky cliffs, 

 and a ridge of sandy and pumiceous hills on the east side. A short 

 distance inside the points two low bouldery spits run out, one 

 from each side, and approach each other to within about 20 

 yards. Still further in is another spit, extending from the eastern 

 side and reaching nearly across to the western side of the crater. 

 On this spit there is a narrow but lofty peaked ridge, mostly over- 

 grown with grass. Between the inner and outer spits tlie water is 

 shallow, with a sandy bottom, there being onl}^ sufficient depth for 

 a boat to pass in. Through the openings the sea flows in and out 

 with the rise and fall of the tide. 



After passing the second spit, you find yourself in a perfectly 

 land-locked circular basin, the lips of which are from 500 feet to 

 1400 feet above you. The depth of water inside the crater, so far 

 as I sounded it, I found to be from 5 to 23 fathoms. Near the 

 centre of the basin there are two rocky grass-covered islets. The 

 western walls of this crater, which are mostly of hard rock, are the 

 highest and steepest, reaching to a height of 13G0 feet in one place. 

 From this side the crater lip gradually slopes round to the northern 

 side, where it appears to be formed of pumiceous earth, and is about 

 800 feet high. Continuing round to the east and south-east, the 

 crater walls become narrow and lower, until they are not more 

 than 500 feet in height. There is a narrow beach all round the 

 basin. It is only on the northern and eastern sides that it is 

 possible to scale the walls of the crater. 



From inside the basin the outer ocean is not visible ; the water 

 is as smooth as a mill-pond, and covered with countless numbers of 

 seafowl, which make this island their breeding-place. 



On a fine day here, shut in by the lofty walls of the crater, the 

 blue sky visible above, against which myriads of birds are to be 

 seen ceaselessly sailing to and fro, and round and round, in their 

 silent flight, with no apparent object but the enjoyment of tho 

 exercise, and the clouds of steam quietly rising from the fumeroles 

 and springs, the scene is most impressive. So much soundless 

 motion, however, soon becomes oppressive, and one longs for the 

 roar of the surf or something else to relieve the monotony. 



This place is a veritable paradise for birds. There are no foxes 



