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At about the place where the reef strikes off the 

 shore, sandy downs begin. There are two or three 

 sandy ridges on the north eastern side of the Island, 

 with valleys between, which widen out eastward. The 

 ridges run in northwesterly and southeasterly direc- 

 tions. One of them continues round the eastern shore 

 of the Island to near the Lime Kiln. The others 

 terminate near the landing place. The height of the 

 ridges is about from 30 to 35 feet above the sea 

 and 20 to 25 feet above the ground line, at the land- 

 ward side of the base of the inmost ridge. 



The tops of these ridges being high and breezy, 

 several buildings have been built upon them, for the 

 accommodation of people in Quarantine, and of the 

 oflScials in charge of the Station, On their landward 

 sides these ridges fall gradually till their slope meets 

 another slope from the central plateau of the Island, 

 But as one proceeds round from the Flag Staff 

 towards " Barclay Bay," the slope of the ridge de- 

 creases in steepness and that from the central plateau 

 increases. 



At " Barclay Bay " the two slopes are separated 

 by a water course which drains the centre of the 

 Island during heavy rains. Judging from what one 

 sees on the surface of the ground, and from the debris 

 dug out of the wells that have been sunk at several 

 parts, the lowlying part of the Island rests on a 

 foundation of coral mixed with basaltic boulders. 



Most of the water used for cooking and other 

 domestic purposes, is rain water, which, falling on the 

 roofs of the houses, is caught ia spouts and stored in 

 large, stone, built, cemented tanks sunk below the 

 level of the ground. When this supply runs short 

 distilled water is issued. For this purpose a large 

 distilling apparatus is fitted up on the island, Several 



