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CHAPTER XXII. 



Keeling Island — Singular appearance — Scanty Flora — Transport of seeds 

 — Birds and insects — Ebbing and flowing springs — Coral formations re- 

 sisting power of ocean — Fields of dead coral — Stones transported by 

 roots of trees — Great crab — Stinging corals — Structure of lagoon islands 

 — Encircling and Barrier reefs — General proofs of subsidence in the 

 Pacific — Theory of lagoon islands caused by subsidence of the land — 

 Pacific and Indian oceans divided into alternate areas of elevation and 

 subsidence — Points of eruption lie within the areas of elevation. 



CORAL FORMATIONS. 



April 1st.— We arrived in view of the Keeling or Cocos 

 Islands, situated in the Indian ocean, and about six hundred 

 miles distant from the coast of Sumatra. This is one 

 of the lagoon islands of coral formation, similar to those we 

 passed in the Dangerous Archipelago. An excellent idea of 

 the general appearanqe of these extraordinary rings of land, 

 which rise out of the depths of the ocean, may be obtained 

 from the characteristic sketch of Whitsunday Island, in 

 Beechey's Voyage. 



When the ship was in the channel at the entrance, Mr. 

 Liesk, an English resident, came off in his boat. The his- 

 tory of the inhabitants of this place, in as few words as pos- 

 sible, is as follows. About nine years ago, a Mr. Hare, a 

 very worthless character, brought from the East Indian 

 archipelago a number of Malay slaves, which now, including 

 children, amount to more than a hundred. Shortly after- 

 wards. Captain Ross, who had before visited these islands in 

 his merchant- ship, arrived from England, bringing with him 

 his family and goods for settlement. Along with him came 

 Mr. Liesk, who had been a mate in his vessel. The Malay 

 slaves soon ran away from the island on which Mr. Hare 

 was settled, and joined Captain Rosses party. Mr. Hare 

 upon this was ultimately obliged to leave these islands. 



