OF THE T0\(;A ISl.AND.s. 593 



been removed by the action of the waves. Much of the material so 

 removed has been thrown u]) on the nortli side of the island, forming 

 the flat above mentioned, and an extensive sliallow area beyond it. 



It seems clear that unless another eruption occurs the island will 

 in a sliort time be reduced again to the condition of a submarine 

 bank formed of volcanic ashes rearranged by the action of the 

 waves *. 



It is remarkable that the depth of 1021 fathoms has been found 

 between Falcon Island and Nomuka, the nearest of the Hapai 

 Islands. 



Next in the scries come the high volcanic islands of Tofua and 

 Kao. Tofua is a volcano in a state of intermittent activity. It is 

 marked in the Admiralty chart as attaining a height of 1 890 feet 

 above the sea. The summit presents a fairly even outline when 

 seen from a distance, and the sides slope steeply in all directions. 

 The crater is situated on the northern side. 



Kao is'Said to attain a height of over 3000 feet. It presents a 

 singularly-perfect conical outline, from all points of view. It has 

 not been in activity within the period of native tradition. 



Continuing the line are Metis Island, which appeared a few years 

 before Falcon Island, and is stated in the Admiralty chart to have 

 been still in activity in 1886; and the volcano Lette, which is 

 figured in the chart of the group (No. 2421). In 18G6, when this 

 island was visited by Lieut. Creak, R.jS',, in H.M.S. ' Esk,' vapour 

 was seen issuing from the crater t. 



To the north of Yavau is the volcano of Amargura. An explosion 

 occurred in 1847, when the island was in part " destroyed by the 

 eruption of its crater " and " ashes were thrown in large quantities 

 on passing ships 500-600 miles to the N.E." j. 



Northwards the line passes through Boscawen and Keppel 

 Islands, which lie close together, halfway between Amargura and 

 Samoa. 



Boscawen Island ( = Niua-tabu-tabu) is described in Findlay's 

 Directory as one entire mountain about 2000 feet in height 

 " resembling the Moluccas ; " it is therefore probably a volcanic 

 island. 



Niua-fou (or Good Hope Island), lying considerably to the west- 

 ward of these islands, is probably a member of the same series. It 

 is described as a volcanic island with black lava rocks all round the 

 shores, and with a crater in the middle containing a brackish-water 

 lake. An eruption occurred in 1853, Avhen a village was destroyed 

 and many lives were lost. Another eruption occurred in 1867 §. 



In the continuation of the direct line northward is the large 

 volcanic island of Savaii, the most westerly of the Samoan islands. 

 The Samoan volcanoes, however, form a series having a direction 

 approximately W.N.W. and E.S.E., which crosses that of which the 



* Foi* a fuller account (with figs.) of the present condition of the island, see a 

 paper by the present writer in Proc. Roy. Geograph. Soc. vol. xii. (1890) p. 157. 

 t FincUay, ' South Pacific Directory,' 3rd ed. p. 45(). 

 I Findlay, oj>. cit. p. 456. § Findlay, op. cit. p. 558. 



