462 KEELING ISLAND. [cmar. xx. 
sinall islands in the midst of a vast ocean—their great distance 
from any land excepting that of coral formation, attested by the 
value which the inhabitants, who are such bold navigators, attach 
to a stone of any kind,*—and the slowness of the currents of 
the open sea, are all considered, the occurrence of pebbles thus 
transported does appear wonderful. Stones may often be thus 
carried ; and if the isiand on which they are stranded is con- 
structed of any other substance besides coral, they would scarcely 
attract attention, and their origin at least would never be guessed. 
Moreover, this agency may long escape discovery from the pro- 
bability of trees, especially those loaded with stones, floating 
beneath the surface. In the channels of Tierra del Fuego large 
quantities of drift timber are cast upon the beach, yet it is ex- 
tremely rare to meet a tree swimming on the water. These 
facts may possibly throw light on single stones, whether angular 
or rounded, eccasionally found embedded in fine sedimentary 
masses. 
During another day I visited West Islet, on which the vege- 
tation was perhaps more luxuriant than on any other. The co- 
coa-nut trees generally grow separate, but here the young ones 
flourished beneath their tall parents, and formed with their long 
and curved fronds the most shady arbours. Those alone who 
have tried it, know how delicious it is to be seated in such shade, 
and drink the cool pleasant fluid of the cocoa-nut. In this 
island there is a large bay-like space, composed of the finest 
white sand: it is quite level, and is only covered by the tide at 
high water; from this large bay smaller creeks penetrate the 
surrounding woods. To see a field of glittering white sand, 
representing water, with the cocoa-nut trees extending their tall 
and waving trunks round the margin, formed a singular and very 
pretty view.. 
I have before alluded to a crab which lives on the cocoa-nuts : 
it is very common on all parts of the dry land, and grows to a 
monstrous size: it is closely allied or identical with the Birgos 
latro. The front pair of legs terminate in very strong and 
heavy pincers, and the last pair are fitted with others weaker and 
much narrower. It would at first be thought quite impossible 
* Some natives carried by Kotzebue to Kamtschatka collected stones to 
take back to their country. 
