38 CORAL AND ATOLLS 



business and scamped detail, and no vessels more thoroughly 

 seaworthy than these island-built boats were ever launched. 



No wood is bent or strained in their making, and every 

 piece in their shell is cut from the natural curve of long- 

 seasoned ironwood, for the Cocos islander is content to spend 

 weeks on the fitting of a part whose making could be done in 

 an hour by less thorough methods. All the skilled work of 

 the islanders and all the best material of the islands was put 

 into the construction of the schooner, and for patient years 

 they laboured on her. 



In 1884 she was ready on the stocks, was christened the 

 J. Ct. C.-Ross, and launched as the islanders' triumph. In 

 February of 1884, George Ross sailed from the lagoon. 

 Aboard the schooner he had put his seven eldest children — 

 four little boys and three little girls ; and taking his brother 

 Andrew as his officer, and some Cocos-born men to work the 

 ship, he started on his remarkable cruise. The islanders all 

 turned out to see their Tuan sail away in their own schooner 

 to visit the outer world, and it was a moment of pride for the 

 colony ; a moment only equalled when they learned afterwards 

 that their handiwork had been examined by the Board of 

 Trade in London and classed as Al at Lloyd's for eighteen 

 years. 



Throughout the Avhole length of the journey, George Ross 

 and his brother kept watch and watch about ; and as a 

 testimony to their seamanship is the fact that, from the day 

 on which she left the lagoon to the time of her arrival in port, 

 she did not once have her mainsail lowered, although in her 

 journey she encountered all sorts of weather. A stay of three 

 Aveeks was made at the Cape, and one of a fcAv days at St. 

 Helena, and in August the J. G. C.-Boss arrived in the 

 Thames. All hands were well, no mishap had taken place 

 on the voyage, and George Ross took his seven children 

 ashore and made arrangements for their education. 



In every way it was a remarkable achievement, and the 

 six months' naviwatino- and ahernate watchinar must have 

 proved a severe strain on any man, but when to this was 



