136 THE CORAL REEFS OF THE MALDIVES. 



a former slightly higher elevation of the reef flats. On the sea face the 

 beach has been thrown up from four to five feet above the highest point of 

 the beach conglomerate, thus flanking what appears like a shallow sink, — a 

 low, somewhat swampy depression. 



As we passed Huradu, we could not fail to notice its luxuriant vegeta- 

 tion, as well as the splendid growth of trees found on the islands (PI. 74, 

 fig. 2) to the south of Mafuri (PI. 72), and on our way to Dandu across 

 Suvadiva, as well as on the eastern and southern faces of Suvadiva. 

 Hated u, one of the central islands, is also covered with luxuriant vegeta- 

 tion, its narrow reef flat is edged with great patches of corals, the beach 

 is flanked with beach rock and small horses of conglomerate, as on the sea 

 face of Mafuri. 



The great lagoon of Suvadiva is fairly clear of patches ; though, as I have 

 already stated, a great number of banks and bars are scattered throughout 

 the group, principally near the land rim, on all of which the masses of colored 

 patches of corals extending from the edge of the flats indicate a most 

 luxuriant growth of reef corals. Many of the low sand-bars were covered 

 with numberless black terns, with white heads, great flights of which were 

 met with in all parts of the lagoon. 



During January the climate of Suvadiva and of the southern Maldives 

 differed greatly from that of the northern part of the archipelago. The 

 southern Maldives are in the region of variable winds, and rain and squalls 

 from the northwest are frequent. 



A great, slightly submerged reef flat, nearly a mile wide encloses Dandu 

 and Hura Mula, an island to the south. At the base of the inner beach of 

 Dandu extend (PI. 75) stretches of slabs of beach rock, and high, steep 

 sand beaches fringe the island. The principal trees consisted of Pandanus, 

 Bread-fruit, Hibiscus, and a few other hard-wood trees. 



South of Dandu the east face of Suvadiva is flanked by a number of 

 wide reef flats well marked by the outer line of breakers, with islands 

 of considerable size,^ as Maldive islands go, all of which are well wooded. 

 To the east of the islands the reef flats are unusually wide. In the lagoon 



1 They are sueli islands as Hura Mula, Mamadu, Wegeli, Funadu, and many others on the east 

 face as far south as 6au. 



