ORIGIN OF THE ATOLL. 205 



mode of origin may evidently be true of all atolls ; for with 

 the exception of the points of high land in the inner waters, 

 there is no one essential character, distinguishing many of the 

 eastern Fecjee Islands from the Carolines to the north. The 

 Gambier group, near the Paumotus, appears to have atforded 

 the philosophical mind of Mr. Darwin the first hint with re- 



GAMBIF/R ISLANDS. 



gard to the origin of the atoll ; the contrast, and, at the same 

 time, the resemblance, were sti iking; the conclusion was nat- 

 ural and most happy. Captain Beechey, in his Voyage in the 

 Pacific, implies this resemblance, wdien he says of the Gambier 

 group, which he surveyed, "It consists of five large islands 

 and several small ones, all situated i i a lagoon forme I by a 

 reef of coral." Balbi, the geographer, as Mr. Darwin remarks 

 (p. 41), describes those barrier reefs which encircle islands of 

 moderate size, by calling them atolls, with high lands rising 

 from their central expanse. 



As some interest is connected with the history of new prin- 

 ciples, and the illustration afforded is hi_hly satisfactory, we 

 give here a sketch of the Gambier group. The very features 

 of the coast of the included islands, — the deep indentations, — 



• 



