298 
Some Account of the Keeling Islands ; 
[Oct, 
No further immediate steps were taken by the Batavian government ; but the 
question being once raised, Mr. Ross foresaw that time would elapse before it could 
be settled • and in the possible event of the islands falling into the hands of the Dutch 
be feared that he might not be aide to fulfil the expectations held out to the settlers 
and work people brought from England. He, therefore, candidly declared to them the 
changeof cdrcu instances which had occurred, from what he had contemplated wlien 
engaging them, and the possibility that he might not he able to fulfil all he ad \ o 
mised them. He gave them, therefore, the option of remaining on these terms or of 
leaving him to better their fortune elsewhere. The latter alternative most of them 
accepted ; and of the number of fourteen whom he broi^ht from England, only two re- 
mained to take their chance with him. The following is a list ot Ins party as at lust 
con^ituted. 
J. C. Ross, his wife and 5 children, 
Anna Andrews, .. •• 
Apprentices, 
W. C. Lish, 
Andrew Moody, 
J. Steevens, 
C. Steevens, 
J. B. Grey, 
Joseph Bayley, Carpenter,. . 
Thomas Deely, ditto, 
R. Steevens, Armourer, 
Native Country* 
Great Britain, ■ 
ditto, 
ditto,* 
ditto, 
ditto, 
ditto, 
Remarks. 
One since born. 
’ Servant to Mrs. Ross, 
since married to W. 
C. Lish* 
Left in H. 
Comet. 
M* Ship 
< 
ditto, 
ditto, 
ditto, 
J ava, 
Left for England, per 
Ship Borneo. 
Left for Java, per 
Ship Tartar. 
1 WentonavisittoBa- 
tavia, per Mulat- 
to, and died there. 
' Left in H. M. Cruis- 
er Comet. 
Portug 
J Left in H. M. Crui- 
\ ser Comet. 
G. Brown, Boatman and Tailor, 
H. Keld, lad from the wrecked Brig, .. 
J. Munslaw, Boatman, 
Juan Antonis, Cook, 
Kcchccl) Bov. ••• •• / 
Three Javanese, one cook, one hoy, and three women all servants on wages 
were subsequently obtained, and Mr. Ross expected from England three manic 
families as settlers. _ , , ... .. „ 
The present imperfect sketch of the settlement of these Islands cannot be bettei 
concluded titan by the following interesting description, written by one who 
appears well acquainted with them, which, with the Chart annexed will, it is to )e 
hoped, render them better known, and give a favourable idea ot their capabilities. 
Description. 
The Cocos or Keeling Isles, so far as appears, are entirely of the coraUme for- 
matioi . The sand and fragments dug out of the wells, near the middle ot the isles, 
being altogether of the same material, rounded by attrition in water, simUaiiy to 
that which at present constitutes the shores and beaches around the isles, it 
circular form of the group, as of the detached northernmost Keeling Lie, may How- 
ever, countenance an idea of their being originally based on submanne to canoe. , 
long extinguished. No traces of the occurrence of earthquakes, or other natura 
convulsions, are discernible on tlieir shores or surfaces. . t 
The most southern or windward part of the group seems to be the most ancie • 
Much of the bay is there filled up nearly to the height of low water, neap tides ; ana 
the growing state of the coral in the bay, and around the isles, fuinis nug a 1011 
nual accession of materials, renders it likely that, in the course of not an extreme . 
long period, the extent of the elevated surface will be considerably mcieaut . 
Around theexterior of the isles the shore is heaped up by the surf, from 12 to - 
above the level of the sea, high water mark. Interior shores and surfaces aie not io' 
ever, in general, elevated more than from 3 to 6 feet above that level. _ . . t 
The soil is mainly comprised.of fine calcareous sand, in some parts mclinin B 
marly, in others strong, (that is rounded pieces of coral and shells, J with a ^ 11 '' 
admixture of vegetable earth, and is from one to two feet deep, lymg ou a s re 
platform of aggregated coral shells, & c. Quantities of pumice stone and lava ar 
thrown on shore by the sea j and by decomposition, an addition of earthy ma e 
being made to the soil. 
