1888.] HISTORY OF CHRISTMAS ISLAND. 513 



middle, and two low rounded elevations, the highest part near the 

 "western end. On nearer approach the -^hole island was seen to be 

 uniformly covered with bush, except w'lere a line of inland cliffs 

 showed a bare grey face in places. 



IT. PHYSICAL FEATURES. 



The general physical features of the island are treated of in Captain 

 Aldrich's Report' and in a paper by Captain Wharton, R.N., read 

 before the Royal Geographical Society in June, 1888. I may here 

 recapitulate some of the more important details. 



Christmas Island, as will be seen by the map exhibited (Plate 

 XXVI.), is of an irregularly quadrilateral shape, the angles being 

 produced into more or less projecting promontories which point 

 roughly to N.N.E., S.S.E., W.S.W., and N.W. The western side 

 is much the shortest, the other sides being of nearly equal length. 

 The northern shore forms a long sweeping curve from N.W. Point 

 on the west to Rocky Point on the east. Just to the west of Rocky 

 Point there is a small sheltered bay, called " Flying-Fish Cove," in 

 which the 'Egeria' remained, made fast to the bottom and to a tree 

 on shore, until she made the tour of the island previous to her 

 departure. 



The greatest length measured from Steep Point on the east side 

 to Egeria Point on the west is about 12 statute miles, or half the 

 length of the Isle of Wight. The island rises from deep sea; 

 soundings of over 1000 fathoms were obtained at five points round 

 it, all within four miles of shore. 



The island is proved to be of volcanic origin by the presence of 

 stones, found at the foot of a cliff in Flying-Fish Cove, pronounced 

 by Mr. John Murray to be "compact olivine basalt, and of a bed of 

 altered stones near the summit "^ No volcanic rock was, however, 

 found in situ. Over every part of the island visited, except on the 

 patch of small volcanic stones near the top, the surface rock is a 

 hard limestone. This forms the summit, 1195 feet above the sea, 

 and covers the sides, broadening out at successive elevations into 

 terraces which rise one above another engirdling the island. These 

 terraces have level tops and end to seaward in a rough steep descent, 

 which in some places amounts to a cliff. The rock is traversed by 

 innumerable broad and deep fissures, which run in all directions, 

 isolating tall pinnacles, which may reach 12 or 20 feet in height. The 

 surface is grey and weathered into minute irregular hollows and 

 sharp projecting points and ridges. 



On the way up to the summit from the landing-place, near the 

 western end of the northern bay, three terraces are met with ; the 

 first is nearly a quarter of a mile from the shore and terminates in a 

 vertical cliff' about 85 feet high, the upper ones in steep slopes of 

 less elevation. 



* Report on Christmas Island (Indian Ocean), H.M.S. ' Egeria,' 1887. 

 ^ See Report on Christmas Island, pp. 14-15. 



