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quantity of excellent Phosphate, but the beach of
the Atol itself and parts of the lagoon side of the
Reef shewed, at low tide, that there would be a
sufficiency of Pearl-shell of what is known as the
"ear" or "Manila" variety to make diving operations
in the lagoon extremely remunerative.
Having spent two days in a N.E. gale upon Pra-
tas, Mr. Newman returned to Hong Kong with small
specimen parcels of Phosphate and Shell, the former
proving, upon analysis, to give 80% Phosphate pure,
worth about $25 per ton, and the latter being valued
at from $8 to $16 per picul (123 lbs.) according to
size, weight and lustre of the Shell.
Before leaving the Atol Mr. Newman hoisted the
British Ensign over the place, and under a cairn
erected at the foot of the pine-tree on the S.E.
shoulder of the Atol he buried in a tin box a state-
ment to the effect that upon the 14th day of January
1907 he had taken formal possession of the Island of
Pratas in the name of His Majesty King Edward VII.
During the month of April 1907 having heard
that