546 



KEELING ISLAND. 



April, 1836. 



or porous coral rock acts like a sponge ; and that the rain 

 water which falls on the ground being specifically lighter 

 than the salt merely floats on its surface, and is subject to 

 the same movements. There can be no actual attraction 

 between salt and fresh water, and the spongy texture must 

 tend to prevent all admixture from slight disturbances. On the 

 other hand, where the foundation consists only of loose frag- 

 ments, upon a well being dug, salt or brackish water enters ; 

 of which fact we saw an instance on this same island. 



After dinner we stayed to see a half superstitious scene 

 acted by the Malay women. They dress a large wooden 

 spoon in garments, carry it to the grave of a dead man, and 

 then at the full of the moon they pretend it becomes in- 

 spired, and will dance and jump about. After the proper 

 preparations, the spoon held by two women became con- 

 vulsed, and danced in good time to the song of the surround- 

 ing children and women. It was a most foolish spectacle, 

 but Mr. liiesk maintained, that many of the Malays believed 

 in its spiritual movement. The dance did not commence 

 till the moon had risen, and it was well worth remaining 

 to behold her bright globe so quietly shining through the 

 long arms of the cocoa-nuts, as they waved in the evening 

 breeze. These scenes of the tropics are in themselves so 

 delicious, that they almost equal those dearer ones to which 

 we are bound by each best feeling of the mind. 



The next day I employed myself in examining the very 

 interesting yet simple structure and origin of these islands. 

 The water being unusually smooth I waded in as far as 

 the living mounds of coral, on which the swell of the open 

 sea breaks. In some of the gullies and hoUows there were 

 beautiful green and other coloured fishes, and the forms and 

 tints of many of the zoophytes were admirable. It is ex- 

 cusable to grow enthusiastic over the infinite immbers of 

 organic beings with which the sea of the tropics, so prodigal 



near the surface, having been overlooked ; it has been supposed that sand 

 possesses the power of filtering the salt which is dissolved in the sea-water. 



