APRO-INDIAN REGIONS. 



239 



to be in reality " an extensive ring of small islets situated on a coral- 

 reef surrounding a lagoon." 



19. NuKUFETAu, or Depeyster coral-island. Only "three and a half 

 miles" distant from the last. Bananas and yams, produced at a 

 distance on the rocky Groups, were found by Mr. Hale to be known 

 to the natives. 



(Paridanus ; compare No. 1 Pauraotuan coral-islands to the rocky Samoan Group. The 

 plant is mentioned in the Narrative of the Expedition, as growing on the Vaitupan 

 coral-islands; and this is confirmed by the chequered mats made of the leaves, that 

 were procured from the natives).* 



20, Vaitupu, or Tracy's coral-island. Visited by the Peacock, and 

 ascertained to be situated in " S. Lat. 7° 28' and E. Long. 178° 44'." 

 At the last coral-island, the natives stated, that tiiere were pigs on 

 Vaitupu ;" animals rarely kept on coral-islands, from the scarcity of 

 the means of support. 



/. The Phmnix range of Low coral-islands. 



In sailing from the Feejeean to the Hawaiian Group, the Vincennes 

 passed through the Phoenix tract of low coral-islands; widely-scattered 

 East and West in the vicinity of the Equator, in almost the very 

 centre of the Pacific. 



21. Gardner's coral-island. We first came in sight of Gardner's 

 coral-island; situated in "S. Lat. 4° 38' and W. Long. 174° 40'," and 

 found to be only about two miles in diameter, consisting of a narrow 

 rim of land-surface encircling a lagoon. On landing, the lagoon was 

 found to have no regularly-formed outlet ; but there was a wide over* 

 flowed space, through which it seemed possible to conduct at highwater 



* (Cocos nucifera ; bis Paumotuan coral-islands to the rocky Samoan Group. "Cocoas 

 nuts" are mentioned in the Narrative of the Expedition, as growing on the Vaitupan 

 coral islands). 



(Colocasia macrorhiza ?, compare No. 1 Serle coral-island. The " pulaka" spoken of by 



the natives is supposed by 3Ir. Hale to be this plant). 

 ( antiquorum ; No. 2; bis Motia to the Samoan Group. According to Mr. Hich, 



the " natives said they had taro :" and the statement is confirmed by Mr. Hale). 



