566 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION E. 
channels. These form one side of a circular lagoon, which 
stretches out westward for fifteen miles, and is enclosed by a 
reef and numerous islets, broken by three navigable channels in 
the south, south-west, and northern divisions. The deepest part 
of the Jagoon is not more than four fathoms. There are traces 
of an upheaval of the Loyalty Islands at three periods. Three 
distinct water-lines may be discerned on the coast of each 
island of nearly equal heights, in the northern island of Uvéa, on 
the southern island of Maré, and also upon Lifu, lying between 
these two. There is not a great difference in the height of these 
several islands on the seaboard, about 150 feet. The centre of 
Lifu is higher than any other part, and in several places high 
coral cliffs exist at a considerable distance from the shore, 
probably denoting that that part of the island was of earlier 
formation than the lower land on the coast. It is also evident 
that the island of Iai at one period was merely an atoll; for, 
running through its centre are lakes, lagoons, and low marsh- 
lands, which probably supply the place of the lagoon of the atoll. 
Great changes have evidently taken place in the group from 
seismic disturbances. 
The most alarming series of earthquakes I experienced in the 
Loyalty Islands occurred in March, 1875. This was accom- 
panied by a disastrous tidal wave, causing serious destruction 
of property and loss of life, on the neighbouring islands of 
Lifu. The tremors were the most severe and frequent of any 
T had ever felt, and the natives said they never before knew 
anything like it. The first shock came at midnight of Sunday ; 
a second tremor was felt at 3.15 a.m. on Monday; and a third 
shock at 6.30 a.m.; a fourth at 7.10 a.m.; and a fifth about an 
hour afterwards. On Tuesday forenoon there:were two slight 
tremors, a sharp shock at 3.30 p.m., and a very severe continuous 
tremor at 8.30 p.m., similar in force to that on Sunday midnight. 
The following evening, at a quarter to 6, there was another slight 
tremor, and a little after 10 a.m. on Friday there was a similar 
oscillation. I noted the time on Uvéa, and found they were 
simultaneously felt on the other islands of the group and on 
New Caledonia. This continued succession of tremors was quite 
phenomenal, and the cause is difficult to define. It was supposed 
to have arisen from some unusual outbursts on the volcanic 
islands of the New Hebrides. 
Of late years very great changes have taken place in the New 
Hebrides from earthquakes and palpable upheavals on some of 
the islands. Port Resolution, Tanna, which formerly was a 
secure anchorage for vessels of large burthen, has lately become 
quite shallow, except at the mouth of the bay. The Bay of Pango, 
Faté (Sandwich Islands), has also quite changed in character. 
Where vessels could formerly anchor the water is too shallow 
now for such a purpose. The volcano on Tanna, although still 
