462 KEELING ISLAND. [CHAP. xx. 



small islands in the midst of a vast ocean their great distance 

 from any land excepting that of coral formation, attested by the 

 value which the inhabitants, who are such bold navigators, attach 

 to a stone of any kind,* and the slowness of the currents of 

 the open sea, are all considered, the occurrence of pebbles thus 

 transported does appear wonderful. Stones may often be thus 

 carried ; and if the island on which they are stranded is con- 

 structed of any other substance besides coral, they would scarcely 

 attract attention, and their origin at least would never be guessed. 

 Moreover, this agency may long escape discovery from the pro- 

 bability of trees, especially those loaded with stones, floating 

 beneath the surface. In the channels of Tierra del Fuego large 

 quantities of drift timber are cast upon the beach, yet it is ex- 

 tremely rare to meet a tree swimming on the water. These 

 facts may possibly throw light on single stones, whether angular 

 or rounded, occasionally found embedded in fine sedimentary 

 masses. 



During another day I visited West Islet, on which the vege- 

 tation was perhaps more luxuriant than on any other. The co- 

 coa-nut trees generally grow separate, but here the young ones 

 flourished beneath their tall parents, and formed with their long 

 and curved fronds the most shady arbours. Those alone who 

 have tried it, know how delicious it is to be seated in such shade, 

 and drink the cool pleasant fluid of the cocoa-nut. In this 

 island there is a large bay-like space, composed of the finest 

 white sand : it is quite level, and is only covered by the tide at 

 high water ; from this large bay smaller creeks penetrate the 

 surrounding woods. To see a field of glittering white sand, 

 representing water, with the cocoa-nut trees extending their tall 

 and waving trunks round the margin, formed a singular and very 

 pretty view. 



I have before alluded to a crab which lives on the cocoa-nuts : 

 it is very common on all parts of the dry land, and grows to a 

 monstrous size : it is closely allied or identical with the Birgos 

 latro. The front pair of legs terminate in very strong and 

 heavy pincers, and the last pair are fitted with others weaker and 

 much narrower. It would at first be thought quite impossible 



* Some natives carried by Kotzebue to Kamtschatka collected stones to 

 take back to their country. 



