308 "ALBATROSS" TROPICAL PACIFIC EXPEDITION. 



Islands runs across the base of the northwest point to the northern face 

 of the atoll; on the western face a narrow submerged reef flat connects 

 the two islands. The outer edge of the gap is flanked with beach rock, as 

 are the sides of the gap between Mat and Emegua Islands. On the north 

 side, opposite the opening of the gap, which is shallow, an island has been 

 thrown up by the surf, from the lagoon side, upon the wide reef flat of 

 the base of the northwestern horn of Likieb. 



The northwest point of Likieb has been formed by large sandy islets 

 thrown directly across the extremity of the reef flat forming the horn of the 

 atoll, the material being derived both from the lee and from the weather 

 side. In proportion as the islands of the land rim of the faces of the 

 lagoon diverge on the lee and on the weather side, a channel is formed 

 at the extremity of Likieb ^ separating the western island from the series 

 of islands and islets and sand bars which run directly across the end 

 of the lagoon, more or less parallel with the base of the outer island. 

 A wide, shallow gap is thus formed between them and the island to the 

 west ; on the weather side the land rim extends toward the east in a long 

 series of islands, islets, and sand bars ; on the lee side an island, more or 

 less triangular in shape, originally also made up of separate islets, is 

 connected with those of the weather side by shallow flats covered at high 

 water. The sea face of these islands is flanked with beach rock, while the 

 lagoon side is formed by high steep fine coral sand beaches. The second 

 eastern set of islands will imdoubtedly, in time, become united and form 

 a second belt to the south of the northern one, and in time that will 

 again be united with the preceding belt, forming, as in the case of 

 Arhno, a solid spit with spurs flanking the two sides of the lagoon. This 

 shows very simply how the shallower parts of a lagoon are gradually 

 filled up by the action of the trade winds. The pass between the islands 

 of Mat and Emegua must be shallow, judging from the color of the belt 

 of light green water separating them. The pass opens out into the 

 shallow flat of the lagoon itself ; on the lee side it is indicated by a line 

 of breakers, and a slight discoloration of the water between the south 

 point of the second island and the island to the south of it. 



1 H. O. Chart 996. 



