6 
C. E. Oldham —Physical Features of the Laccadives. [No. 1, 
The reef enclosing the lagoon has two openings through it, that to 
the northward being broad and shallow with numerous patches of grow¬ 
ing coral. An examination with a water-glass shewed that, off the 
eastern and southern sides, coral was growing in 5 to 7 fathoms, and 
everywhere off the western side of the atoll it appeared to be growing 
luxuriantly. An attempt was made to collect some, but owing to defec¬ 
tive means none was obtained ; the grapnel sent down, after catching 
several times and.bringing nothing up, eventually caught a large mass 
of madrepore, and was lost. 
Inside the lagoou, and in the northern entrance, numerous patches 
of Porites, Madrepore, and blue coral were growing, except towards the 
south end where the bottom is principally coral sand. The absence of 
live coral towards the south end is no doubt due to the reef here being 
almost continuous, preventing the current and tides from supplying 
food, and the coral being killed by the accumulation of sand washed 
from the reef. In all parts where the tide ebbed and flowed live coral 
was observed. 
Good water is obtainable on the island, and as in Kilt an, is no doubt 
the drainage from the soil resting on the conglomerate coral rock. 
I found several pieces of volcanic rock, and a green stone on the 
north end of the island ; they were said by the natives to have been 
brought from Byramgore Reef, where a steamer with stone ballast had 
been wrecked. 
Kardamat Island extends 4| miles N. N.-E. and S. S.-W., with an 
average width of about a quarter of a mile. Like Kiltan and Chitlac it 
is situated on the eastern side of an atoll, and forms about one-third the 
circumference. The centre of the island, and oldest part, is well covered 
with coconuts. It seems to be formed principally of blown sand 
overlying coral-sand rock. The latter can be observed in many places 
on the lagoon edge ; where it is exposed between high and low water, it 
generally dips at a slight angle towards the lagoon. 
The extremes of the island carry a scanty vegetation of jungle 6 to 
8 feet high, but attempts are being made to grow coconuts over the 
whole island. 
The northern point of the island is formed by a spit of sand on 
which I found a quantity of pumice, extending inland for about fifty 
yards from the extreme point; it is strewn all over the surface, and 
varies in size from a marble to half a foot in diameter. 
Although there is a large quantity on the point, it is not more than 
is frequently found washed up on coral islands in other parts of the 
world, where, as is the case at Kardamat, the currents are favourable 
