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APPENDIX. 
environed by reefs, some attached to the shore, and some 
rather distant from it. — I have taken pains to procure 
plans and information regarding the several islands which 
lie to the S.E. and S.W. of the Seychelles ; from accounts 
given me by Captain F. Moresby and Dr. Allan, it appears 
that the greater number — namely, Platte, Alphonse, Coetivi, 
Galega, Providence, St. Pierre, Astova, Assomption, and 
Glorioso 1 — are low, formed of sand or coral-rock, and irre- 
gularly shaped ; they are situated on very extensive banks, 
and are in connection with great coral-reefs. Galega is 
said by Dr. Allan to be rather higher than the others ; and 
St. Pierre is described by Captain F. Moresby as being 
cavernous throughout, and as not consisting of either lime- 
stone or granite. These islands, as well as the Amirantes, 
certainly are not atoll-formed, and they seem to differ from 
all other groups ; I have not coloured them ; but probably 
the reefs belong to the fringing class. Their formation is 
attributed both by Dr. Allan and Captain F. Moresby, to 
the action of the currents, here exceedingly violent, on 
banks which no doubt have had an independent geological 
origin. They resemble in many respects some of the 
islands and banks in the West Indies, which owe their 
origin to a similar agency, in conjunction with an eleva- 
tion of the entire area. In close vicinity to the above 
several islands, there are three others of an apparently 
different nature; first, Juan de Nova, which appears from 
some plans and accounts to be an atoll, but from others 
this does not appear to be the case ; 2 not coloured. Secondly* 
Gosmoledo : ‘ this group consists of a ring of coral, ten 
leagues in circumference, and a quarter of a mile broad in 
1 [ Platte , Coetivi, and Galega have narrow fringing-reefs.- — Capt. 
Wharton.] 
2 \Juan de Nova is an imperfect atoll. The islands on its eastern 
or weather side have been raised about 8 or 10 feet. The western part 
is submerged. — Capt. Wharton. A coral-bank, with 5 fathoms water 
on it stretches off the southern end. — Lieut. Chas. Smith.] 
