270 



"ALBATROSS" TROPICAL PACIFIC EXPEDITION. 



The noi'thwest passage is, like the western passage, formed by a gap in 

 the outer reef flat, flanked on one side by a low islet running at right angles 

 to it, edged with beach rock and terminating in a long sand spit. On the 

 other side of the passage is a similar island edged with beach rock on the 

 sea face ; this passes gradually into a low sand spit forming a part of 

 the immense reef flat and system of shoals and islets which edge the 

 northwestern horn of the lagoon of Taritari. 



The islands and islets on the west face of Taritari are very scantily 

 wooded. Pandanus begin to grow to the westward of the southern point, 

 and the summit of the beach and the lagoon side of the islands on the 

 outer reef flat are covered with Pisonias, with scrub vegetation, and tall 

 hardwood trees. Nowhere have we seen finer groves of cocoanut trees ; 

 they attain a colossal size, grow thickly in an unbroken mass (Pis. 152, 

 fitrs. 3, 4 ; 155, fig. 1 ; 157, fig. 1), and both here and at Maraki are per- 

 haps the finest cocoanut groves of the tropical Pacific. 



Lagoon Flat. Taritaki. 



