134 ON CORAL REEFS AND ISLANDS. 



that Kuria and Nanouki were similar in having the reef elevated 

 though to a less extent. It would hence appear that the eleva- 

 tions in the group increase to the northward. 



Maraki, to the north of Apia, is wooded throughout. We 

 sailed around it without landing, and can only say that it has 

 probably been uplifted like the islands south. Makin, the north- 

 ernmost island, presented in the distant view no certain evidence 

 of elevation. 



The elevation of the Kingsmills accounts for the long conti- 

 nuity of the wooded lines of land, an unusual fact considering 

 the size of the islands. The amount of fresh water obtained 

 from springs is also uncommon, (p. 43.) The wear from storms 

 would also be greater on islands which have been elevated. 



m. Radack, Ralick and Caroline Islands. — No evidences of 

 elevation in these groups are yet known. The very small amount 

 of wooded land on the Pescadores inclines us to suspect rather a 

 subsidence than an elevation ; and the same fact might be gath- 

 ered with regard to some of the islands south, from the charts of 

 Kotzebue and Kruesenstern. 



n. Ladrones. — The seventeen islands which constitute this 

 group, may all have undergone elevations within a recent period, 

 but owing to the absence of coral from the northern, we have evi- 

 dence only with regard to the more southern. 



Guam, according to Q,uoy and Gaymard, has coral rock upon 

 its hills more than six hundred feet (one hundred toises) above 

 the sea. 



Rota, the next island north, afforded these authors similar facts, 

 indicating the same amount of elevation. 



o. Pelews and neighboring Islands. — The island Feis, three 

 hundred miles southwest of Guam, is stated by Darwin, on the 

 authority of Lutke, to be of coral, and ninety feet high. Mac- 

 kenzie Island, seventy-five miles south of Feis, is a low atoll, as 

 ascertained by the Expedition. No evidences of elevation are 

 known to occur at the Pelews. 



Melanesian Islands. — Among the New Hebrides, New Cale- 

 donia, Salomon Islands, the evidences of elevation have not yet 

 been examined. 



The details given on the preceding pages are here presented 

 in a tabular form. 



FEET. 



Paumotu Archipelago, Honden, 1^ or 2 



" " Clermont Tonnere, 2 



" " Nairsa or Deans's, 6 



Elizabeth, 80 



" " Metia or Aurora, 250 



" " Ducie's, 1 or 2 



Tahitian Group, Tahiti, ? 



Bolabola, ? 



