202 COBALS AND CORAL ISLANDS. 



ing parts of the reef. Layers of beach sand-rock on the lagoon 

 shores, as well as on the seaward side, inclined at an angle of 

 six or seven degrees : characters as already described. Grow- 

 ing coral in the entrance to the lagoon, within two feet of the 

 surface, mostly a species of Millepora (M. squarrosa). Inte- 

 rior of the lagoon not examined, no time being allowed for it by 

 the Expedition. The water looked as blue as the ocean, and 

 was much roughened by the winds. 



Kawehe, or Vincennes Island, Paumotu Archipelago, 15° 

 30' S., 145° K/ W. 13 miles by 9, trending north-north- 

 west. Shape irregularly oval. Having a large lagoon, and 

 mostly wooded around, least so to leeward. Between the 

 wooded islets (as on E-araka and elsewhere), surface consisted 

 of angular masses of coral rock (among which the Porites pre- 

 vail), strewed in great numbers together ; and in some parts 

 bearing a few vines and purslane among the blocks, though 

 scarcely any appearance of soil, or even of coral sand. In 

 other parts, not as high, no vegetation, and surface still wet 

 by high tide. A few large masses of coral on the shore plat- 

 form, either lying loose, or firmly attached below, as already 

 described; some of them were six feet cube, and one was 

 raised seven feet above high-water mark. Shore platform about 

 a hundred yards wide, rather highest at the edge, and much of 

 its surface two to four feet under water at low tide. As else- 

 where, this platform is nothing but a compact coral conglom- 

 erate or limestone, having no growing coral over it, except in 

 some shallow pools near its outer margin, where also there 

 are numerous holes in which crabs are concealed, with small 

 fish and other animals of the shores. On the lagoon shore, 

 layers of beach sand-rock, six or seven in number, dipping at 

 an angle of seven degrees toward the lagoon, and outcropping 

 one above the other. Similar layers on the sea-shore side. 



