. 
168 J.D. Dana on Changes of Level in the Pacific Ocean. . 
dence that a long period has elapsed since the subsidence ceased ; 
and as such a change is not common in the Pacific, we may sus- 
pect that it has been furthered by at least a small amount of ele- 
vation. ‘The observation by the Rev. D. Tyerman with regard 
to the shells found at Huahine high above the sea, may be proof 
of elevation; but the earlier erroneous conclusions with regard 
to Tahiti, teach us to be = in admitting it without.a more 
particular examination of the deposit. 
c. Herveyand Ruruiu Gro oups.—'Ihese groups lie to the south 
we and south of Tahiti. 
Atiu (Wateoo of Cook) is a raised coral island. Cook ob- 
serves that it is “nearly like Mangaia.” The land near the sea 
is only a bank of coral ten or twelve feet high, and steep and 
rugged. ‘The surface of ae island is covered. with verdant hills 
and plains, with no stream 
Mauke is a low clovated — island.f 
_ Mitiaro resembles Mar 
Okatuiaia isa low pa island, not more than six or seven 
feet high avers the beach, which is coral sand. It hasa light- 
reddish soil 
Mangaia is girted by an elevated coral reef three hundred feet 
in height. Mr. Williams speaks of it as coral, witha small piso 
lity of fine-grained basalt in the interior of the island; he states 
again that a broad ridge (the reef) girts the hills $ 
Rurutu has an elevated coral reef one hundred and filly feet 
in height. || 4 
With regard to. the om islands of these groups, Manwai, 
Ailutaki, Rarotonga, Rimetara, Tubuai, and Raivavai, the de 
scriptions by Williams and can appear to show that they have 
undergone vo recent elevation. 
d. Scattered Islands in the latitudes between the Society and Sa- 
moan Groups.— These coral islands, as far as we can ascertail 
are low like the Paumotus, excepting some of the perpen 
north a the equator, and possibly Jarvis and Mald a 
Of anning Group, (situated near the nema south | 
the Gecuia, Grou 
‘ashinglon Isla nd is three miles in diameter, without a proper 
lagoon; the whole sarlond, as seen by us, was covered d densely 
‘ aay ores vol. i, pp. 180, 197. Williams's Miss, Enterprises, i, 47, 48, fist 
m. 
Williams's Miss, Ent., pp. 39, 47, 2 Pg erg pp ear er 
Williams's Miss, Ent., , pp. 48, 50, — See also eee 
Miiisoc Miss. Ent., p. 50 —Stutchbury sentir ‘the coral ae: ats : et 
and fifty feet high, — — = England Journal, i—Tyerman aud Be Uoseribe 
Tock as two hundre took high on one side of the bay and three hundred oF ¥- 
other (ii, 102).—Ellis says that the rocks of the aterior are in part basaltic, and > 
part vi lar lava, iii, 393. ante a Re 
