^ 107 — 



they have lain for a long time, geologically speaking, 

 where they now are. 



The angles are much more worn off the jbasaltic 

 stones, among which the lumps of coral lie, than off 

 the coral. And the angles are more worn off the 

 blocks on the seaward side of the bank than off those 

 lying on its landward side. 



This bank extends from opposite the Pigeon 

 House Rock to Palissade Bay. Inside the bank and 

 lying between it and the central plateau of the Islandi 

 there is a shallow valley, in the bottom of which are 

 several small marshy hollows which collect water 

 during heavy rains. On the eastern slope of the bank, 

 cultivation had apparently been attempted in the not 

 very remote past. The stones have been gathered 

 together off the surface of the ground and thrown into 

 heaps. The kinds of plants which had been cultivated 

 are now matter of conjecture. But I would say they 

 were perhaps vegetables of various sorts, cotton, and 

 cereals, likely maize, or millet. 



At a short distance to the eastward of "the Pigeon 

 House Rock begins a barrier»fringe reef of coral and 

 volcanic rocks. 



This reef breaks off the shore and runs for about 

 500 yards in an easterly direction ; then its course 

 changes and it runs nearly northwest and southeast, 

 until it unites with the northern part of Gabriel Island* 

 As the reef runs in this direction, its distance from 

 the shore is about from 160 yards, at the nearest 

 point, to 460 yards from the landing jetty. 



The area lying between the reef and this part of 

 the coast, is nearly dry at low water. In fact three 

 of the most venturesome spirits of our party waded 

 across it to the reef and walked along this to Gabriel 

 Island and back. During spring tides there is very 



