16 A NATURALIST'S WANDERINGS 



From the amount of cocoa-nut husk, or coir, as well as from 

 the combustible nature of all the buildings and of the palm 

 trees themselves, incendiarism was the crime most feared at 

 the hands of the lawless. Consequently it was sternly enforced 

 that every individual should report himself at the guard-house 

 at a fixed hour ; and that every fire should be quenched at 

 sunset. It was penal for anyone to spend the night on any 

 but the Home island, without express permission from the 

 captain of the guard. Every boat was numbered and had to 

 be in its place an hour before sunset ; if it were not, by tock of 

 drum a muster was called, the absentees noted, and a search 

 instantly instituted, to bring back the defaulters or to render 

 aid in case of accident. 



Unsullied as their history began, it was not long till a 

 Black Calendar had to be added to their island archives. 

 Criminals invariably betook themselves to the concealment of 

 the ; forest-clad islets, where they could often elude capture 

 for weeks ; but, unless they could steal a provisioned boat, 

 which was almost impossible, they conld get no further. 

 The tale of the restless dread and suspense which held the 

 whole community, when some mutineer, with the desperate 

 spirit of amok in him, was at large, and the exciting efforts to 

 effect and to elude capture, M'as a chapter, which demanded 

 little from the narrator's art, to engage my sympathies and my 

 profound interest in this community, living its chequered life 

 so far from the sympathies of the world. 



To prevent any temptation to robbery no coined money 

 is allowed on the atoll. The currency is in sheep-skin notes 

 signed by Mr. Ross, which are good as between member and 

 member of the community. Wages are paid in these or 

 in goods and food articles brought regularly from Batavia, 

 while the notes are exchangeable for Dutch money in Batavia 

 on presentation to Mr. Eoss's agent. 



On the 31st March, 1857, as a large inscribed board near 

 the landing place on Home island proclaims. Captain Fre- 

 mantle in H.M.S. Juno visited the Cocos Islands, and, after 

 the usual royal salute, declared them part of the British 

 dominions, and Mr. Eoss (the father of the present proprietor) 

 their Governor during Her Majesty's pleasure. The whole 

 was, it appears, a ludicrous mistake on the part of Captain 



