196 THE OCEAN WORLD. 



level tops of the cocoa-nut tree. As a white cloud here and there 

 atfords a pleasing contrast to the azure sky, so in the lagoon, bands 

 of living coral darken the emerald-green water. 



" The next morning I went ashore on Direction Island. The 

 strip of dry land is only a few hundred yards in width ; on the lagoon 

 side tliere was a white calcareous beach, the radiation from which, 

 under this sultry climate, was very oppressive. On the outer coast, a 

 solid broad flat of coral rock served to break the violence of the open 

 sea. Excepting near the lagoon, where there is some sand, the land 

 is entirely composed of rounded fragments of coral. In such a loose, 

 dry, stony soil, the chmate of the intertropical regions alone could 

 produce so vigorous a vegetation. On some of the smaller islets 

 nothing could be more elegant than the manner in which the young and 

 full-grown cocoa-nut trees, without destroying each other's symmetry, 

 were mingled into one Avood. A beach of glittering white sand formed 

 a border to those fairy spots. 



" The natural history of these islands, from its very paucity, 

 possesses peculiar interest. The cocoa-nut tree, at the first glance, 

 seems to compose the whole wood ; there are, however, five or six 

 other trees. One of these grows to a very large size, but, from the 

 extreme softness of its wood, it is useless ; another sort affords ex- 

 cellent timber for ship-building. Besides the trees, the number of 

 plants is exceedingly limited, and consist of insignificant weeds. In 

 my collection, which includes, I believe, nearly the perfect Flora, 

 there are twenty species, without reckoning a moss, lichen, and 

 fungus. To this number two trees must be added, one of which was 

 not in llower, and tlie other I only heard of. The latter is a solitary 

 tree of its kind, and grows near the beach, where, without doubt, the 

 one seed was thrown up by the waves. 



" The next day I employed myself in examining the very interesting 

 yet simple structure and origin of these islands. The water being 

 unusually smooth, I waded over the flat of dead rock as far as the 

 living mounds of coral, on which the swell of the open sea breaks. 

 In some of the gulleys and hollows there were beautiful green and 

 other coloured fishes, and the forms and tints of many of the zoophytes 

 were admirable. It is excusable to grow enthusiastic over the infinite 

 number of organic beings with which the sea of the Tropics, so prodigal 

 of life, teems ; yet I must confess, I think those naturahsts who have 

 described in well-known words the submarine grottoes decked with a 

 thousand beauties, have indulged in rather exuberant language. 



" I accompanied Captain Fitzroy to an island at the head of the 

 lagoon ; the channel was exceedingly intricate, winding through fields 



