20 A XATURALIST'S WANDERINGS 



continued to ooze out for about ten to fourteen days, lay some- 

 where between the southern end of New Selima and the 

 northern end of Gooseberry Isknd. The colour was of an inky 

 hue, and its smell " like that of rotten eggs." From this point 

 it spread south-westward as far as the deep baylet in South- 

 east Island, where meeting the currents, flowing in at the 

 westward and northern entrances, which run, the one round 

 the western, the other round the eastern shore of the lagoon, 

 its westward progress was stopped ; whereupon, turning north- 

 wards through the middle of the lagoon (becoming slightly 

 less dark as it proceeded), it debouched into the ocean by the 

 northern channel. Within twenty-four hours, every fish, coral 

 and mollusc, in the part impregnated with this discolouring 

 substance — probably hydrosulphuric or carbonic acid— died. 

 So groat was the number of fish thrown on the beach, that it 

 took three Aveeks of hard work to bury them in a A'ast trench 

 dug in the sand. 



At the time of my visit, the islands were slowly recovering 

 from this sad disaster, and the whole settlement, living far from 

 the busy strife of the world, yet sufficiently mingling with 

 it to afford contentment without envy, seemsd the ideal of a 

 peaceful and happy colony. Mr. Ross, who is associated with 

 several of his brothers, occupies a commodious and comfortable 

 house midway between the two villages, surrounded by a high 

 wall, enclosing a large garden in which fruit-trees and shrubs 

 -sow manilla {Mimusojis), bananas, loquat {Eriohotrija), Poin- 

 cianas, and roses in grand profusion, — seem to flourish remark- 

 ably well, notwithstanding the scanty soil. Each Keeling 

 family possesses its own neat plank house, comfortably fur- 

 nished, enclosed in a little garden. Housed in a trim shed by 

 the water's edge, each has one or more boats. These boats are 

 their pride ; and so ardently do they vie with each other in 

 their speed, and in the elegance of their shape and furnishings, 

 that the village possesses a fleet of really masterpieces of boat 

 architecture. Living on the sea, as they do, they are all from 

 their birth naturally skilful sailors ; and one of the pleasantest 

 reminiscences of my visit, is the sight of that little white- 

 sailed fleet boating home across the lagoon, in a sunny evening, 

 against a stiflish breeze. 



It was exceedingly pleasant to observe the cordial and 



