1836. 



ANIMALS— FRESH WATER. 



635 



As if in speaking of these singular, though so small islands, 

 — where crabs eat cocoa-nuts, fish eat coral, dogs catch fish, 

 men ride on turtle, and shells are dangerous man-traps,^ — 

 any thing more were necessary to ensure the voyager''s being 

 treated like the old woman's son who talked to her about 

 flying-fish, — it must yet be said that the greater part of the 

 sea-fowl roost on branches, and that many rats make their 

 nests at the top of high palm-trees. 



Except sea-fowl and the domestic creatures-]- which have 

 accompanied man to the Keelings, there is no bird or animal ; 

 but a kind of land-rail, which is numerous. Besides the 

 palm there are upon the largest islets other trees, particu- 

 larly a kind of teak, and some less valuable wood, from which 

 a vessel was builtc 



Fresh water is not scarce on the larger islets of the group, 

 but it is only to be got by digging wells in the coral founda- 

 tion, covered as it is by vegetation. In these wells, about 

 six feet deep, the water rises and falls as the tide of the ocean 

 flows and ebbs ; which I believe to be the case at most other 

 coral islands where there is fresh water. It appears that 

 the fresh water of heavy rains is held in the loose soil, (a 

 mixture of coral, sand, and decayed vegetable substances,) and 

 does not mix with the salt water which surrounds it, except at 

 the edges of the land. The flowing tide pushes on every side, 

 the mixed soil being very porous, and causes the fresh water to 

 rise : when the tide falls the fresh water sinks also. A sponge 

 full of fresh water placed gently in a basin of salt water, will 

 not part with its contents for a length of time if left untouched. 

 The water in the middle of the sponge will be found untainted 

 by salt for many days ; perhaps much longer, if tried. 



A word about the inhabitants, and I leave the Keelings. 

 No material difference was detected by me between the Malays 

 on these islands, and the natives of Otaheite or New Zealand. 

 I do not mean to assert that there were not numbers of men 



• Chama gigantea. There is a large one in the United Service 

 Museum. 



t Rats and mice included ; which swarm on those islands. 



