HISTORY OF THE ATOLL FROM 1871 43 



As a result of tlie negotiations, the Governor, in his seckided 

 coral islands, had to give way to the men of business instincts 

 at home, and in 1891 he became merely a part owner of a 

 lease of the island. It was the beginning of the end of his 

 daughter colony, for in 1897 the working of the island was 

 taken over by the British Christmas Island Phosphate 

 Company. The plantations of Liberian coffee, of bananas, and 

 pepper had to go before the advance of machinery and the 

 spoiler. One thousand Chinese coolies replaced the colony of 

 Cocos-born Malays, and Sikh policemen kept order in a land 

 where for a time the opinion of one man had been sufficient 

 guarantee of good conduct. 



Before the inrush of all the turmoil of wealth-getting, the 

 wonderful fauna has had to give way. The unique rat {Mus 

 Mddeari) has been utterly destroyed, and the Christmas Island 

 fruit pigeon {Carpophaga Whartoni) is fast following in its 

 footsteps. 



Christmas Island has become a remarkably successful 

 commercial undertaking, but as a preserve for an interesting 

 and isolated fauna, and as an ideal place for a peaceful Malay 

 settlement, its day has passed. George Ross and his Cocos 

 men have withdrawn from the island ; they have abandoned 

 for ever the scheme of their plantations and their larger 

 colony, and centred all their energies on perfecting their home 

 in Cocos-Keeling. 



The Governor has busied himself with designing and 

 erecting a fine house for himself, Avhich is a monument to 

 his patience and skill. He has imported building material 

 from England and, with his own masons and carpenters, he 

 has moulded upon his own designs a house the perfect con- 

 struction of which is his pride. He has built turtle ponds and 

 boat harbours, made good paths, laid down trolly lines, and 

 generally improved the island of his residence so that it is a 

 model of neatness and good order. 



He has portioned out the work amongst his brothers and 

 sons, so that each man has his duty, and every detail receives 

 attention. It would be difficult to find anywhere a better 



