8 
along and ?/ltMn tiie crest of the reef accumulations of coral 
sand, tossed up by the waTes that unceas 
become consolidated form 
palm-decked Islets, the larger of which are often 
lly 
inbabited. fninl ^ne or morB^chann els^^jreeching 
the^ re pours the run-off of the water that 
pile^ up in the lagoon either the tides and wind-blown 
that .un across the expose. ree^« 
windward side 
Atolls, because of their low elevation and poor visibility, 
always been a menace to navigation in the South Pacific, 
especially in the days of sailing ships, v/hich v/ere rather 
helpless when exposed to adverse 'winds and currents in close c^v/awters, 
• fhus it is quite understandable tliat the numerous 
care. 
atolls comprising the Tuamotus, designa.ted the 
Dangerous Archipelago on many charts. and in^arly sailing 
directions . 
in the other handj ^he Society Islandsy)are ”riigh ^^lands’’ 
'•Shnecb 
feacl^ssentially a volcanic cone ol’ybones surrounded b^uringing 
^ is c»- ^ 
ree£ within Virliich xxx enclosed relatively narrow lagoon^ with 
" h\<d^ Isl q^yds grg K /e/0(/Hvg J 
A 
passes 
Vh 
T'ha 
JL XXwi 
Ids 'to. navigatio 
^afe CaK re&fsy y 
icesAeven ¥;hen 
giving access to the sea. 
hey are recognizable at sea for great distancesAeven ¥/hen 
belov/ the horizon, for almost always over their peaks hangs a cap 
or cover of clouds indicative of the existance of an island even 
when this itself is not visible. 
