STRUCTURE OF CORAL ISLANDS: 1G7 



reef is wanting, and the sea and lagoon have unbroken com- 

 munication. In place of it, there are two to ten fathoms of 

 water, and a bottom of coral sand. Small vessels may sail in 

 almost anywhere on this side to good anchorage, and there is 

 a passage for ships of the largest size. The depth within is 

 greater than on the bar, and these inner waters obviously cor- 

 respond to the lagoon of other islands. 



Apaiang has much resemblance to Apamama in its forest 

 border and lagoon. Moreover, there is a ship entrance through 

 the southwestern reef. 



Marakei is one of the prettiest coral islands of the Pacific. 

 The line of vegetation is unbroken. Tn a view from the mast- 

 head it lies like a garland thrown upon the waters ; the un- 

 practiced eye scarcely perceives the variation from a circular 

 form, however great it may be. The grove is partially inter- 

 rupted at one point, where there are indications of a former 

 passage through the reef. 



Tari-tari, lying to the north of Apia, is a large triangular 

 atoll. It is wooded almost conf-inuously on the side facing 

 southeast, and has a few spots of verdure on the southwest, 

 with three entrances to the extensive lagoon. The northern 

 side is a naked reef throughout, scarcely apparent from a ship's 

 deck, except by the long line of breakers. Makin, just north 

 of Tari-tari, is a mere patch of coral reef without a lagoon. 



We add a few more descriptions of Pacific islands, with 

 figures reduced from the maps of the Wilkes Expedition to a 

 scale of four-tenths of an inch to a mile. 



Taiara and Henuake (figs. 1 and 2), are two small belts of 

 foliage, somewhat similar to Maraki. Henuake possessed an 

 additional charm in being tenanted only by birds ; and they 

 were so tame that we took them from the trees as if they had 

 been their flowers. 



