OTHER CORAL STRUCTURES 281 



structure, to indicate it as a monument raised upon sinking 

 land — it becomes natural to inquire if there is any indication 

 of the opposite movement ; whether there is any suggestion 

 of an ultimate hoisting from the ocean-level, as has occurred 

 with its nearest neighbour, Christmas Island. As a result of 

 his examination of the atoll, Dr. Guppy gave it as his 

 opinion " that neither of upheaval nor of subsidence is there 

 any evidence of an unequivocal character." These words were 

 written in 1888, whilst in 1878 Forbes had said : "Between 

 Direction Island and Workhouse Island I observed what 

 seemed to me signs of recent elevation" ; and in 1836 Darwin, 

 as has been mentioned, believed that, in the undermining of 

 some coco palms he observed those signs of sinking which he 

 had looked to find. 



The evidence of sinking that he found he describes as 

 follows: "At Keeling atoll I observed on all sides of the 

 lagoon old coconut trees undermined and falling ; and in one 

 place the foundation posts of a shed, which the inhabitants 

 asserted had stood seven years before just above high-water 

 mark, but now was daily washed by every tide. 



There is no real difficulty in accounting for such diverse 

 opinions, given by such highly trained observers. Darwin 

 stayed but ten days in the atoll, and his visit was in April 

 1836 ; Forbes remained for three weeks in January and Feb- 

 ruary 1879; and Guppy landed in August 1888, and his 

 visit lasted for about ten weeks. 



As the island dry land is undergoing a perpetual cycle of 

 making and unmaking with every set of the local currents, it 

 becomes evident that in order to form any just estimate of 

 the resulting outcome of these forces, the observer must watch 

 the process for a considerable time. 



As a result of my prolonged stay I have no doubt that the 

 gain is ultimately to the land, and the opinion of the Governor 

 is that the islands are always winning from the sea ; though 

 at any time in some portion of the atoll you may point out 

 spots in which the water is undoubtedly encroaching. The 

 atoll comprises a large strip of land — much larger than any 



