142 



Couthouy on Coral Formations 



in directly upon the beach. There is anchorage for ships in 

 from ten to thirty fathoms water on either side of the low, 

 sandy islet by which the entrances are separated.* 



SKETCH OF CHRISTMAS ISLAND. 



/ 



157 30. 



The letters A. B. C. D. E.,and the adjoining dark spots, indicate the position 

 of the snialler lagoons and dry hollows. 



F. and G. are two hills of coral sand, about ten feet higher than the rest of 

 the island. 



*For the sketch of Christmas Island, and also many of the facts in connexion, 

 I am indebted to the Hawaiian Spectator, for July, 1838. This publication, 

 which was issued quarterly, in a very handsome octavo form, at Honolulu, in 

 Oahu, and conducted with much ability by an association of the foreign resi- 

 dents, v/as discontinued at the close of the second year, for lack of patronage. 

 This is much to be regretted, as it promised to be the vehicle of much important 

 information, both of a scientific and general character, relative to Polynesia. 

 Its place is in a measure supplied by a weekly paper entitled " The Polynesian, 

 established in June, 1840, and ably edited by our townsman and former asso- 

 ciate, J. J. Jarves, Esq., but the size of this renders it less valuable than the 

 Spectator, as a work of reference. 



