368 " ALBATROSS " TROPICAL PACIFIC EXPEDITION. 



and of negro-heads; it extends between Point Tagua, past Point Ritidian, 

 as far as Falcona anchorage on the west coast. From that point the 

 vertical cliifs edge the coast until we reach the reef flats of Tumiui and 

 Agana Bays (PI. 194, fig. 2), which extend as far as Cabras Island. To 

 the south of Orote Peninsula a narrow reef flat juts out from the west 

 coast at various promontories in the extension of spurs of the volcanic 

 slopes (Pis. 198, figs. 1, 2; 233, fig. 4). At Merizo Bay a broad reef flat 

 forms the southwestern extremity of Guam. Two low islands, Cocoa 

 and Bali, have been thrown up on the southwestern extremity of this 

 wide reef flat; it extends to the eastward as far as Point Ajayan, and 

 is lost as we reach Port Ynarajan. Beyond that point, as far as Port 

 Pago, the coast is edged by a narrow reef flat. The northern part of 

 the east coast of Guam, between Port Pago and Point Patay, consists of 

 steep vertical cliffs, varying in height from 150 to over 500 feet. At 

 Point Hanoum a narrow reef flat again skirts the eastern shore as far 

 as Point Anao. 



As we looked back on the northeast point after turning to the west, 

 we could see indistinct traces of the terraces which once ran round it ; 

 from constant erosion and disintegration, the lines of terraces have been 

 changed into a long irregular slope, with here and there a rounded step 

 indicating the position of a former terrace. 



The general level character of the northern part of the island to the 

 south of Point Ritidian is very apparent as seen from the sea. The sur- 

 face slopes slightly to the west towards the central part of the island. 

 The northern face is flanked by a coral sand beach ; irregular patches of 

 corals extend from Point Tagua round the west side. The sloughing 

 off of the sea face of the terraces has obliterated their lines of demarca- 

 tion. Their number is indicated by the position of the rows of caverns 

 seen on the cliff faces. At the northwest point the fifth terrace stands 

 out boldly. The steep slope at the base of the point is probably the 

 remnant of the third and second terraces, while the first terrace slopes 

 more gradually to the sea. Looking south from Point Ritidian we could 

 see the succession of headlands formed by the line of vertical limestone 

 cliffs separating the shallow bays or indentations between the headland 



