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matra, all of coral forraation, noue liigher, nor even so liigh as 

 the Cocos above the sea, but sorae so low, as to be partially 

 overilowcd by the high water tides? Again we have to ask 

 if the numerous low coral isles and reefs (of the former none 

 higher thau tlie Cocos) which are along the S. W. coast of 

 Sumatra on ifs submarine extension or //bank of soundings," 

 all so far frorn the shore as to leave navigable passages between 

 and many from five or six to twenty miles distant in the 

 Oiiing, are to be classed as beiug reefs, which merely 

 skirt the shore? Of these, all the way from ludrapour, 

 soutli of Padang to near Acheen Head, some are always in 

 siglit, far and near from ships sailing between them and the 

 coast, and besides these (which may be cousidered as being a 

 contiuued chain of coral low isles and reefs washed by the 

 break), there are, first, Little Fortune Island, lying six mi- 

 les distant from the main of the S. E^. Point of Sumatra, the 

 interveuing space being safely navigable by ships of any size, 

 however large; next, Kat Island and lagoon reef, six miles 

 distant from the main; and thirdly. Trieste, at about fifty mi- 

 les, standing on the verge of the bank of soundings in between 

 60 and 70 fathoms depth of water. To this isle Mr. Dauv.'In's 

 special atteution is requested, not without reason as he will 

 sce by the following matter of fact description. It is a small 

 low isle (vvitli a pool of brackish water on it's central part) , 

 standing in the N. E^i. part of a large elliptically formed lagoon, 

 which is surroundcd by the remains of a coral wall, standing 

 now as a line of small peaks, the highest just above the sea 

 level, and having on some of their tops small bushes of the 

 clwarf mangrove tree, which grows in salt or brackish water. The 

 interior of the lagoon has a white sand bottom, with about four 

 fathoms depth of water on ifs central part, and thence gradu- 

 ally shoaling towards the sides, the lagoon having been more 

 and more Jilled up towards the wall by it's debris being carried 

 onwards with the surge of the Lreakers. Now, seeing that all 

 these coral composed isles and reefs of breakers, stand as afo- 

 rcsaid on the submarine extension of the S. W. Coast of Su- 



