GENERAL REPORT ON THE MATERIALS SENT FROM FUNAFUTL 1G9 



In addition to these, veiy numerous specimens of sand and rock from all parts of 

 the atoll, with the specimens obtained by the dredgings on the outer flanks of the 

 atoll down to 200 fathoms, were entrusted to me by Professor David, Mr. Hat>ligan, 

 and Mr. Finckh, together with illustrations of the rate of growth of the various 

 reef-torming organisms described in a previous report (p. 141). Captain A. Mostyn 

 Field, through the Hydrographer to the Admiralty, Sir W. J. L. Wharton, sent to 

 me the materials brought up in the deep-sea soundings around the Ellice Islands. 



I may now proceed to describe the manner in which these various materials have 

 been dealt with. 



A. The Materials from the Main Boring, 111 i^ feet. 



Thanks to the experience gained in the first attempts during the pioneer expedition 

 under Professor Sollas, to the great skill and resourcefulness displayed by Professor 

 David, and to the professional ability of the workmen brought from Sydney, this 

 boring was carried to a very satisfactory depth — a [depth which, considering the 

 difficulties that had to be overcome, must be regarded as surpassing the most 

 sanguine exj)ectation of those who projected the expedition. The boring was 

 commenced with a diameter of 5 inches, but, when a depth of 68 feet had been 

 reached, this had to be reduced to 4 inches, while, at a depth of 210 feet, a further 

 reduction to 3-g- inches became necessary. In spite of these reductions, however, the 

 boring was carried to a depth of 1114|^ feet, the upper 700 feet being fitted with 

 lining tubes, while, below that depth, the solidity of the rock permitted of lining 

 tubes being dispensed with. 



The first part of the boring, 68 feet long, like the cores sent home by Professor 

 Sollas, yielded only a number of fragments of solid rock, the united lengths of 

 which amount to less than 17 feet. The next 142 feet of 3|-inch core included solid 

 pieces also, with a united length of 17 feet only. In the succeeding 163 feet 

 of boring (that is, from 210 to 373 feet), very little but disintegrated material 

 was brought up, the few solid fragments in this part of the boring having a united 

 length of 14 inches only ! For 264 feet more (fi^om 373 to 637 feet) the disintegrated 

 material was much in excess of the solid core, there being only 18 feet of solid 

 rock in the whole of this distance. But, between the depths of 637 and 748 feet, 

 a remarkable change was manifest in the character of the material. The rock 

 became soft and earthy in character, almost resembling chalk in outward appearance, 

 the separate organisms also becoming less conspicuous. A careful examination, how- 

 ever, showed this resemblance to chalk to be merely superficial, for, with a lens, all 

 the plants, foraminifera, and corals occurring in the higher portions of the core were 

 found to be present, and this conclusion, as will be seen in the sequel, has been 

 entirely confirmed by the microscopic study of thin sections.* Although fairly 



* See Dr. Hinde's Report, Section XI. 

 2, 



