82 Lieut. Hosken^ R.N. — On the Neiu Hebrides Group, 



deviation of the line would be increased. But, on the other hand, 

 storms might pile up the gravels in places where the line of high 

 spring-tides was lower than its mean, and in such places they would 

 make the line less undulating. It appears, therefore, that the fact of 

 a certain raised beach having different elevations in different places 

 does not lead to the conclusion that necessarily the land has been 

 unequally uplifted since the formation of that beach.^ 



VI. — Eemakks about the New Hebrides Group, 22nd April to 



11th May, 1875. 



By Henry Hosken, Navigating Lieutenant of H.M.S. Pearl. 



Communicated by E. H. Scott, F.E.S., F.G.S. 



General Appearance. 



Most of these islands appear to be of volcanic origin, their centres 

 rising to high-peaked, cone-shaped, mountains, of from 500 to 6000 

 feet in height. The weather, east and south-east, sides are clothed 

 with thick forests from base to summit ; but the north-west and 

 west sides in many of them have but a thin sprinkling of trees, the 

 slopes being covered with a thick, wiry grass. 



Appearance of Upheaval.— Nearly every island of the Hebrides 

 and Banks Groups shows signs of an upheaval ; on those on which 

 it was most clearly marked may be noted : — 



First, Tanna Island. — This island has the appearance of having 

 undergone a gradual upheaval. The tongues of rock, which jut out 

 from the coast-line, are water-worn. Evidently at one time they were 

 awash, but are now from 15 to 30 feet above the present high- water 

 line. Where the coast consists of abrupt cliffs, it shows signs of 

 having been undermined at various levels. The excoriations run 

 horizontally along the whole face of the cliff. There are several 

 caves, and irregular holes in them. Lumps of coral were observed 

 on the terraces on the west coast, a short distance inland. 



Second, Erromango Island. — Five clearly- defined ridges or terraces 

 were distinguishable along the south coast, as far as the eye could 

 reach ; which formed steps at the points, This side of the island was 

 densely wooded, with bare spots of white limestone rock, here and 

 there, showing out between the trees. 



Third, Sandwich Island. — Has numerous low points, and rises in 

 successive terraces to the base of the volcanic mountains in the 

 interior ; there are large mushroom-shaped coral rocks high up inland, 

 old coral rock crops up in all directions, even on the highest levels. 



Fourth, Deception, Hat, Lopevi, Star Peak, Mota, and Saddle 

 Island. — These islands are similar in their formation, the first terrace 

 being now formed by the comparatively low points, that stretch out 

 from the highland. 



^ Round the coast of Great Britain, especially in some of the bays and estuaries, 

 the difference between the heights of high spring -tide is much more marked than 

 around the coast of Ireland. 



