Reeh 



and Islands? 35 



angler mass, simil^ attached to the reef at base, observed on 

 Kawehe, (Vincerineslsland.) It was six feet high above low 

 water level, and seven feet in its longest diameter. Below, it 

 had been worn like the one just described, though to a less ex- 

 tent. Another similar mass was eight feet high. Figure 3 rep- 

 resents a block six feet high 3 

 and ten feet in its longest di- 

 ameter, seen on Waterland 



was unattached below, and lay 

 ^ with one end raised on a smal- 



^ ler block. On Aratica^ (Carl- 



shoff,) others were observed. 



One loose mass like the last was 



eight feet high and fifteen feet 



feet Raraka 



**« 



also afforded examples of these attached and unattached blocks, 

 some standing with their tops six feet above high-water mark. 



These masses are similar in character to many met with among 

 the fields of blocks just described, and differ only in having been 

 left on the platform instead of being transported over it. Some 

 of them are near the margin of the reef, while others are quite 

 at its inrier limit. The third mass figured above was a solid con- 

 glomerate, consisting of large fragments of Aslrasas and Madre- 

 pores, and contained some imbedded shells, among which an Os- 

 tr^a and a Cypra3a were noticed. This is their usual character. 

 The other two were parts of large individual corals, (Porites;) 

 but there was evidence in the direction of the cells that they did 

 not stand as they grew; on the contrary^ they had been up- 

 thrown, and were afterwards cemented with the material of the 

 rock beneath them, probably at the time this rock itself was con- 

 solidated. Below some of the loose masses like figure 3, (as on 

 Aratica,) the platform was at times six inches higher than on 



ide of the mass, owing to the protection from wear given 

 (uface beneath it. These blocks are alwayS extremely 



-I ... . ni " 1 11^ ,l--p*,^JI 



either si 

 to the sm 



tu uie suriace Deneatn it. i nese diocks are aiways trAucuiuiy 

 rough and uneven, like those of the emerging land beyond; and 

 the angular features are partly owing in both cases to solution 

 from rains or frorh the sea- water that may be dashed over.them.^ 



It should be distinctly understood that these masses here de- 

 scribed were found isolated, and only at considferable intervals. 

 In no instance were they observed clustered. The loose blocks^ 

 and those cemented below had the same general character, and^ 



^1 



1 



#» 



^ 



must have been placed where they were by the same cause 

 though it may have been at different periods. 



The shore of the lasoon is ^eneililly low and gently inclined, 

 yet in theJ^jgRr islands, in which the watQis of tlie lagoon 



m 



much dis^^^ by the winds, there -is usually a beach r#eni- 

 bling that dftihe seaward side^, though of. less extent. A- plat- 



>^. 





Jib 



