204 WHAT MR. DARWIN SAW. 



INDIAN OCEAN. 



on our passage to the Isle of France. I am glad we have vis- 

 ited these islands: such formations surely rank high among 

 the wonderful objects of this world. Captain Fitz Roy found 

 no bottom with a line seven thousand two hundred feet in 

 length, at the distance of only two thousand two hundred 



GROWTH OF CORAL OX A MOUNTAIN SLOWLY SUBSIDING. 



yards from the shore ; hence this island forms a lofty sub- 

 marine mountain, with sides steeper even than those of the 

 most abrupt volcanic cone. The saucer - shaped summit is 

 nearly ten miles across; and every single atom, from the 

 least particle to the largest fragment of rock in this great 

 pile (which, however, is small compared with very many la- 

 goon islands), bears the stamp of having been subjected to 

 organic arrangement. We feel surprised when travellers tell 

 us of the vast dimensions of the Pyramids and other great 

 ruins; but how utterly insignificant are the greatest of these 

 when compared to these mountains of stone, accumulated by 

 the agency of various minute and tender animals ! This is 

 a wonder which does not at first strike the eye of the body, 

 but, after reflection, the eye of reason. 



