294 
Some Account of the Keeling Islands ; 
[Oct. 
their unwary visitor. Limited in extent, anti still more in their vegetable productions, 
the salutary ocean breeze circulates through every part of them, anti drives mala- 
ria, with all its train of protean symptoms, far away. Conveniently situated as they 
are, with regard to Calcutta, we doubt not in fact, that these islands will become ob- 
jects of attention to us, and that in time they will be a place of resort to our invalids, 
particularly as a means of escaping our hot weather and rains, which on account of 
the southern latitude of these islands will correspond with their colder season. 
Every one who has been obliged to change his climate on account of health, knows 
that it is not so much the residence at the place as the voyage to and back again 
that effects the salutary change ; and that the longer the latter is, the more decided 
the renovation of health. The reason is obvious, it is the greater purity, and conse- 
quently salubrity of the air at sea, free as it must be of all pestilential exhalations, 
or putrid miasms, whether of animal or vegetable decomposition. A residence in 
these islands would combine all the salutary influences of a sea voyage, with the 
conveniences and comforts of the land. When to these important considerations is 
added the proximity to Calcutta, enabling the invalid, should his arrangements re- 
quire it, to be back at any time within a period of a month, we shall lie satisfied 
that Calcutta ought to take a strong interest in the progress of these islands to a 
full settlement and occupation. . . , 
Up to the year 1825, no attempt had been made to occupy these islands, thougB 
offering so many advantages, as a port for refitting, to the ships engaged in the eas- 
tern trade. In December of that year, the Borneo, I C. Ross, Master, a vessel ie- 
longing to the house of Hare and Co. of London, and employed in the trade to the 
Eastern Islands, on her return voyage to England from Padang, touched .at ■ them. 
Mr. Ross it appears 1 * had long contemplated a project of settling with his fami > 
on this remote and uninhabited spot— convinced, from its situation, that it \\ o c- 
corne a place of importance to our eastern trade. On the 6th December he landed 
and took possession in the name of the British Government. During the 6th, 7th, 8th, 
and 9th he was occupied clearing and planting various useful trees and vegetables. 
He then sailed for England, determined fully to bring out his family and some set 
tiers and fix himself in this narrow and remote spot. On his arrival in London, h 
opened his project to his employers, and obtained their c ° nse ^- ^of 0 the' isles, 
nicated to Mr. Horsburgh, Hydrographer to the H. E. I. C., y!^ tc ,f b [ ed 
with the anchorage, for publication and general information. He final > e 
with his wife and family, and several settlers and apprentices, in the Borneo, 
arrived safe at the Cocos Islands, in Nov. 1827. , 
On landing he, somewhat to his surprise, found already settled on them, Ms A 
aeder Hare, brother of one of the partners of the house m whose employment 
had been, and joint owner with them of the Borneo. Mr. Hare had been *° rn , - 
Resident at Borneo, under Sir Stamford Raffles; governmentjm bad eft ^ a 
tVe ^unsettled in' his plans, and for some time was doubtful where to fix his residence. 
Mr attended by a number of followers, including women and dnld en ; 
originally, it appears, slaves, but manumitted m consequence ot our abolitioulaw 
It seems that Mr. Hare was anxious to settle these people where t evs' t 
no risk of being molested, in order that he might return to Europe on some urgen 
affairs. In pursuance of this plan, he had visited the Cape, aiu pu .. a 
there, where Mr. Ross had seen him on a former voyage in the Borneo . ; an ^ 
conversation with him, understood him to be dissatisfied with his posi ,or 1 th ® J e ob _ 
desirous of changing it. Many places were mentioned— the Eastern l8, ' 1 “ d - 
jected to, on the score of jungle and unhealthmess. Mr Ross says the C £ ^ 
Isles were at last fixed on, and lie was requested by Mr. Hare to examine ‘ 
next opportunity that offered, and let him know the result. Mr. <ue ag - ^ 
he had instructed him to visit and examine the Cocos s am s, a l 
a strong inclination to settle there ; while Mr. Ross declaies, ia. p 
mentioned amongst the others, he never understood Mr. are . »j l6 
by the term lie used in bis parting note, (“ No-man’s land, , any o iei ^ 
Christmas Isles, on which the conversation had chiefly turned. ies ^ 
determined, if a fair opportunity offered, to visit on Mr. Hare s accoun , 3 
1 Declaratory Paper drawn up and read on hoisting 
Nov. 1827. 
the British Flag) 4th 
