E. C. Andrews — Coral Reefs in the Fiji Islands. 141 



The simplest explanation of the origin of this island appears 

 to be that a basement, either of volcanic rock, or limestone, or 

 of both, was submerged, and a mass of coral with a precipitous 

 western face was formed. The limestone thus formed sub- 

 sequently was raised above sea level. The elevation occurred 

 in stages interrupted by pauses during which the sea cut long- 

 horizontal lines in the cliff face, the original profiles of the cliff 

 being preserved in the main during the intermittent uplift and 

 marine erosion, although the tendency was to produce a cliff 

 somewhat overhanging. During the formation of the line of 

 erosion which occurs a few feet above sea level, a small 

 fringing reef appears to have been formed, suggesting 

 that a reef may be built up actually at sea level, while a raised 

 reef, at the same time, may be undergoing demolition by wave 

 action on the landward edge of this growing reef. The wide 

 flat on the eastern portion of Vatu Leile may be due to 

 growths of coral reef organisms during a pause in this uplift. 

 The existence of the present Barrier Reef at sea level suggests 

 a recent submergence of the island, inasmuch as, if this reef 

 had been in existence during the various uplifts, suggested by 

 a study of the cliff face, it should have been elevated with the 

 main island. 



Other islands might be described, such as Ftddnga, or 

 Ifdngo, JYaitdmba, Yathdta, Thithia, Tuvuthd, and Th'i- 

 Jcombia, in which it may be noted, as with the islands 

 already described, that each has had an individual history 

 especially in connection with the amounts of submergence 

 and emergence involved. Thus the Vdtu Yard limestone 

 occurs 1,030 feet above sea level and exhibits traces of numer- 

 ous movements of elevation in recent time, while the Mango 

 limestone, distant only a, few miles, is only 550 feet in height 

 and suggests submergence instead of emergence, during its 

 later phases. The Vdtu Leile ' reef -limestone ' also is 110 

 feet high and shows numerous traces of recent emergence, 

 while the raised 'reef-limestones' of the neighbouring 

 coast of Viti Levu are probably not more than 25 feet 

 above sea level and the whole coast of this great island has 

 been affected by pronounced stream action and submergence 

 in recent time. The independent testimony, however, of the 

 majority of the islands is that the present Barrier Reefs are 

 due to the upward and outward growth of coral-reef organisms 

 upon land areas recently submerged. 



