2GG 



HYDROGRAPHY. 



MARAKI ISLAND, 



This island has been known on the charts as Mathew's Island. It 

 lies nearly due east from the north point of Apia Island, distant 20 

 miles. It is also of coral formation, with a lagoon, in shape of an 

 isosceles triangle, the base lying east and west, forming its southern 

 side, 2 2 miles in length, and its two sides trend north-northeast and 

 north-northwest, each 5 miles and three-fourths in length ; the whole 

 is a continuous strip of land, excepting a small gap on the eastern 

 side, where the reef is bare. It is but moderately wooded with cocoa- 

 nut, pandanus, and a sparse shrubbery. The trees are less elevated 

 than those of some other islands, which prevents it from being seen 

 at as great a distance as those whose foliage is more dense and 

 higher. 



The island is well populated, and from several of the natives with 

 whom communication was had, they appeared to have had but little 

 intercourse with ships ; all they desired was to have iron hoops. 

 There is no entrance into the lagoon, but a good lee may be had 

 under it from the northeast winds. The shore-reef extends entirely 

 around the island, and has a white coral sand beach, that looms up 

 very bright. At the north and southeast points of the island the 

 reef extends off to a short distance, on which the sea breaks with 

 violence. 



This island offers no refreshments for ships. 



TAMTAM AND MAKLN ISLANDS. 



These have been designated as the Pitt Islands. Taritari is the 

 largest ; it is nearly in form of an equilateral triangle, with an 

 extensive lagoon, the sides being 13 miles in length ; that on the east 

 trending northeast and southwest ; the one on the north, west-by- 

 north and east-by-south ; and on the west, north-northwest and 

 south-southeast. The southern side is the only one which has any 

 soil on the reef ; this is well wooded, with the exception of two gaps, 

 about a mile wide, where the reef is bare. The northeast angle 

 of the triangle is cut off, leaving a short side, trending north-north- 



