1898.] Funafuti, Rotuma and Fiji. 443 



ings in 20 — 40 fathoms showed that they further occurred to this 

 depth, as after resting the lead constantly fell off into a depth 

 greater by 2 — 3 fathoms. These masses to a depth of about 

 16 fathoms have a most striking appearance to windward from 

 the brilliantly coloured nullipores, which cover them, corals being 

 rarely seen. North of the island, where the breadth of the visible 

 zone is greater than elsewhere, corals are more abundant, growing 

 principally on the sides of the buttresses, between which the 

 bottom is covered with sand. Off the western islands and to 

 windward there is a sudden drop from about 35 fathoms, in a few 

 yards 50 fathoms giving no bottom. The angle, however, again 

 decreases, as off Afaga there is at least 600 yards between this 

 sounding and the 100 fathom line, which runs very evenly round 

 the whole island, including also the western islands. It in no 

 way curves in towards the cliffs, and hence I consider affords 

 strong presumptive evidence against any subsidence. 



The passages in number and size are proportional to the 

 extent of the reef surface, and are the natural outfalls for the tide, 

 which probably keeps them open by its scour. At Noatau and 

 Lopta are perennial streams of fresh water, but there are no 

 passages especially attributable to them. The depth of the boat 

 channel varies, but does not exceed 2 fathoms. Between Husia, 

 a small island between Noatau and Afaga, and the main island are 

 depths of 10 — 11 feet, but the tidal currents set strongly there 

 and are gradually washing Husia away ; off Malaha and by the 

 isthmus depths of 7 — 9 feet are not uncommon. To the north of 

 the isthmus is the deep pool of water, previously referred to, 

 which I consider to have been formed by the reef growing up 

 around. 



At Noatau, Oinafa, Pepji and many places along the coast the 

 volcanic rock is shut off from the sea by the formation of a sand 

 flat, of which the isthmus also is formed. At Noatau it is about 

 500 yards broad and 1 foot above high tide level, rising for 2 — 3 

 feet higher near the beach. I dug into it in places to the depth 

 of 6 — 12 feet, but only found loose sand with fragments of corals 

 and nullipores. On the beach between tide marks it ends with a 

 beach sandstone formation in strata, 4 — 7 inches thick, dipping 

 down at an angle of 5° — 10° to the sea. On the beach the ends of 

 6 — 7 layers may be seen. As these are removed the sand is 

 found to be less firmly consolidated, until in 3 — 4 feet it is quite 

 loose. 



The top of a layer, which is the part most exposed to the air 

 and waves, is the hardest. If it is removed, as is constantly done 

 by the natives for gravestones, it seems to be rebuilt, growing up 

 as it were from the broken edge ; fresh layers on the outside seem 

 to be formed too in a similar manner. These sand flats are very 



