14 ON THE CORAL 



undulations will, therefore, meet with more resist- 

 ance, and deposit a greater quantity of sand than in 

 situations resisting less. In the formation of islands, 

 from coral and sand, as soon as the sand appears 

 above the -surface of the water, birds carry roots and 

 various seeds attached to them, for the, construction 

 of nests : hence the speedy appearance of bushes and 

 trees. Instead of supposing with some, that the 

 numerous islands on this coast have been formed by 

 the violent commotions of nature, occasioned by 

 earthquakes, which separated them from . the con- 

 tinent on the above principles, it is more reasonable to 

 suppose their formation on the above principles, and 

 chiefly by coral: more especially, when we considei that 

 the depth of water between many oi these islands and 

 Sumatra is unfathomable, The numerous clusters of 

 islands in the eastern seas, from 36 to 16 degrees east 

 longitude, are all supported, by bases of coral, and 

 surrounded by shoals emerging from the surface, or 

 pushing their conical frusta into a new element* 

 Experience has ascertained the formation of islands 

 from coral : it is not altogether conjecture to suppose 

 that various groups of islands, in the great eastern 

 Archipelago, will, in process of time, become con- 

 tinents, or insular tracks or spaces of land. On the 

 coast of CoromanJel, in the immediate front of Matfr . 

 exposed anchorage has produced, and produces an- 

 nually, lamentable accidents, attended with much 

 public detriment. The position of a sheltering 

 island in that situation would be an object of nati- 

 onal, benefit and private safety and advantage. To 



attempt 



