THE COMPLETED ATOLL. 271 



last sinking peak. Another period, and this had gone — the 

 island had sunk, leaving only the barrier at the surface and an 

 islet or two of coral in the enclosed lagoon. Thus the coral 

 wreath thrown around the lofty island to beautify and pro- 

 tect becomes afterward its monument, and the only record of 

 its past existence. The Paumotu Archipelago is a vast island 

 cemetery, where each atoll marks the site of a buried island. 

 The whole Pacific is scattered over with these simple memori- 

 als, and they are the brightest spots in that desert of waters. 



V. THE COMPLETED ATOLL. 



The atoll, a quiet scene of grove and lake, is admirably set 

 off by the contrasting ocean. Its placid beauty rises to grand- 

 eur when the storm rages, and the waves foam and roar about 

 the outer reefs ; for the child of the sea still rests quietly, in 

 unheeding and dreamy content. This coral-made land is firm, 

 because, as has been already explained, it is literally sea-born, 

 it having been built out of sea-products, by the aid of the 

 working ocean. And so with the groves : they were planted 

 by the waves ; and hence the species are those that can defy 

 the encroaching waters, and meet the various conditions in 

 which they are placed. The plants therefore take firm hold of 

 the soil, and grow in all their natural strength and beauty. 



Only an occasional coral island has a completely encircling 

 grove, and is hence a model atoll. But the many in which a 

 series of green islets surround the lagoon are often but little 

 less attractive, especially when the several islets present varied 

 groupings of palms and other foliage. To give perfection to 

 the coral island landscape there ought to be, here and there, 

 beneath the trees, a pretty cottage or villa, and other marks of 

 taste and intelligence ; and now and then a barge should be 



