More subdued t e r r a i n develops on the i n t e r i o r a r e a s of volcanic rocks, but t h e surrounding limestones and chalks are crumpled i n t o folds and dissected i n t o jagged r i d g e s following the s t r i k e of the folds

-

²⁵

-

W U I T A ISLAND IANDSCAPE

Edwin Doran Jr.

The c o n t r a s t betwen the

low

a t o l l s of Micronesia and the rugged mountainous i s l a r d s of t h e Solornons i s irmnense ( ~ i g . 6 ) . Mjlaita i s 120 miles long by over 20 miles i n breadth, and elevations of two t o four t h o u s m i f e e t a r e t m i c a l along the c r e s t s of

its

northwest- southeast trending

ri&es

( ~ i g . 8 ) . I)ownfolds of t h e rock8 a r e r e f l e c t e d i n somewhat lower elevations i n the Fawmbu and Takataka Synclines, part of t h e l a t t e r forming Mammsike Passage between the i s l a n d of t h e same nem and M a l a i t a . More subdued t e r r a i n

develops on the i n t e r i o r a r e a s of volcanic rocks, but t h e surrounding limestones ^and chalks

are

crumpled i n t o folds and dissected i n t o jagged r i d g e s following the s t r i k e of the folds. Limited areas of c o a s t a l p l a i n a r e d e v e l o p d on a l l u v i a l outwash o r r a i s e d coral. reefs.

Few climate records e x i s t i n t h i s area, but the luxuriant growth of t r o p i c a l r a i n f o r e s t covering almost the e n t i r e i s l a n d i s ample evidence of r a i n f a l l w e l l over 100 inches. Much of the p r e c i p i t a t i o n quickly disappears below t h e surface i n porous limestone areas, however, and stream beds are s a i d t o be choked wi+& boulders and even dry except irmnediately folloKFng heavy r a i n s .

It is evident t h a t a laxge, well-watered i s l a n d such as MaLaita could be expected t o support many times the population of the sparse a t o l l s f a r t o the north

-

and indeed it does. On the other hand crude population d e n s i t y is misleading i n an a r e a of rugged and a t times barren t e r r a i n , p a r t i c u l a r l y when edaphic conditions a l s o may be unfavorable

to

agriculture.

An obvious first requirement tarard appreciating the t r u e p o t e n t i a l i t y of W a i t a f o r support of i t s inhabitants and f o r an understanding of

-

²⁶

-

its

p r e s e n t and potential. problems of land tenure l i e s i n an accurate measuffment of

the

extent, d i s t r i b u t i o n , and q u a l i t y of arable land.