92 APPENDIX T. 



that in other parts of the atoll, and sti'eiigthened liy tlie presence of many Pcnilcs masses, M'hich have 

 persisted since before the formation of the older lireccia. This was attacked by the waves, was eroded 

 and broken off, and with any new coral, Lifhofhrtmiiion, foraminifera and mollusean shells wns throwi\ 

 up, forming a complete islet as now seen on many parts of the atoll. On its lagoon side was a considerable 

 indentation in its breccia, forming a bay ; into this the sand and drhris from the islet were driven, and 

 in time hardened, forming the comjDact sandstones (L.3.) dipping lagoonwards. These were then 

 further covered' and protected by more waste from the same islet lieing thrown over it; the waste of 

 this again proceeded, till by slow degrees the first islet disappeared from its old site altogether, and 

 appeared further lagoonwards. It thus shifted more and more till the breccia, once the foundation of the 

 islet, is now much eroded, and the sandstones once laid down lagoonw'ards of the islet, reappear on the 

 ocean side and become also subject to erosion. 



TE FALAOINGO. 



r>ctween Tefala and this islet (Plate 4) occasional I)lack-topped pinnacles of rock are to be seen which 

 pierce the waters that cover the long tidal platform between its central axis and its ocean margin. 

 These, which are the tops of Porifi'S and breccia pinnacles, increase as tliis islet is approached, until 

 within a third of a mile north of it they liecome very much more numerous, occupying nearly the whole 

 of the extent of the platform, and extending southwards to the next islet. On its first appearance it 

 is suggestive of an extensive area of massive ruins, over the most of which, as the land has subsided, 

 the sea has rolled and effected a general but rude levelling. The peculiar circular masses of coral 

 raised mound-like in the centre, ^nth concentric and rudely radiating joint-like markings, have the 

 appearance, at first siglit, of having been hurricane stranded. These are Poiitrn 1)locks tilted slighth' to 

 the sea as they grew, and embedded in the l)reccia mass, as though set in concrete. The latter contains 

 oidy an occasional fragment of PorHi'n, and, except for these l)roken pieces, most of the PorUes masses are 

 in aitu. There is a vast number of these great blocks here, ranging up to 7 or (S feet in diameter, and 

 forming the platform level near the ocean margin, to 4 feet above high water, near the islet. The}' 

 protrude through the main mass of the breccia which occui^ies the spaces between the bases of these 

 r&rites blocks, and has here, as at other places, yielded more rapidly to the action of the waves than the 

 Pontes masses, so that the latter are left standing in relief. 



Very little HeJiojwm nrriilca Avas seen, and this not in sifii ; sliould it exist, as I think prol)able, it 

 is o1)scured by the breccia. A little new HeJinpora nrndca was seen Avith some other coral fragments 

 among the breccia and between the Porifrs. Unworn new coral of any kind is rarely thrown up here. 

 This may be accounted for l)y the rugged character of the floor of the platform, and the upstanding 

 Pmites l)locks and breccia which would intercept and break up any wave-borne object. What little 

 there is, is chiefly broken pieces of the yellow Milkprnv. The outer sea-platform differs greatly here 

 fi-om the average sea-platform in width and form, the width being much less than usual, and the " water 

 channels " of the outer reef more luimerous and penetrating further into the platfoim than commonly ; 

 there is a much wider corrosion zone (0.2.P).), which is very much nearer the ocean margin than usual, 

 there being scarcely any of the worn platform zone (0.3). 



The islet of Te Falaoingo is situated farther from the ocean face of the platform than Tefala, l^ut 

 not so far as Fuagea and the other western islets to the north of this. Its present existence as an islet 

 is undoubtedly attril)utable, as in the case of Tefala, to its l)eing sheltered from the strong westerly 

 gales by the presence on the ocean platform of the protecting breccia and the masses of Porites acting 

 as a breakwater. The islet is in form roughly an irregular oblong. It is composed of a thin layer of 

 foraminiferal and Pifhofhamvioit sand mingled with a little lieach dchrh, shells and pumice, &c., the 

 surface of which is about 4 feet above high-water level. The islet is attacked l)y the surf at every 



