880 CORAL AND ATOLLS 



var. annulata), which is called Ular tana by the natives, is 

 boldly banded with black and white, and it lives in the sand 

 of the lagoon : it does not appear to be a very common species 

 in Cocos, and I only obtained one specimen during my residence 

 in the atoll. A small grey eel that is very common among 

 the holes in the barrier rocks is an interesting creature to 

 watch, for it preys upon the crab named Kapeting treleh, and 

 the swiftness with which it will pounce upon one of these 

 crabs and withdraw with it into its hole is quite astonishing. 

 Besides eating the Kapeting treleh, these eels destroy a far 

 more valuable creature, for they are particularly fond of young 

 turtles, and turtles are none too common in the lagoon to-day. 



Of the myriad other creatures that live in the clear waters 

 of the atoll, some have already been mentioned because of the 

 importance of their actual influence upon the structure of the 

 atoll, and the Beche-de-mer are the most important of these. 

 Beche-de-mer live in extraordinary numbers in this atoll for 

 the reason that their exportation is wisely prohibited ; they 

 form a very valuable asset to the islands, and one which could 

 be easily exploited in the event of a sudden failure of the crop 

 of coconuts. Beche-de-mer when dried are called trepang, 

 and they are extensively used in China and elsewhere in the 

 preparation of a soup that is nearest akin to turtle soup, and 

 is very excellent. The demand for them is great, and very 

 few of the Chinese servants who come to the atoll can resist 

 the temptation to try to smuggle some away when they leave 

 the place. 



The temptation is very easy to understand, for the sea-slugs 

 may be picked up by the thousand without any trouble, and 

 they need no preparation for the market save simple drying in 

 the sun. 



Many beautiful star-fish (native name, Ula.r hintang) — one 

 being a very vivid blue — lie scattered about the rock pools ; 

 and a great number of very quaint and beautiful sea-urchins 

 (native name, Terongan) are to be found about the crevices of 

 the barrier rocks. The shells to be found both in the lagoon 

 and on the barrier are extremely fine, and one of the most 



