CO UAL'ROCK LIME. 343 
found in some of the islands, but not in quantity 
or kind to be available in the preparation of lime 
for building. Shells might be procured in tolerable 
abundance; but the white coral rock, of which the 
extensive reefs surrounding these islands are com¬ 
posed, and which appears inexhaustible, is used in 
the manufacture of lime. 
The natives dive into the sea, sometimes several 
fathoms deep, in order to procure the solid or 
sponge-shaped coral, which .for this purpose is 
better than the forked or branching kinds. They 
also prefer that which is attached to the main reef, 
and growing, or as they sometimes call it, live 
coral, to that which is broken off and hardened or 
dead. The large fragments or blocks of coral, 
sometimes three or four feet in diameter, are con¬ 
veyed on rafts to the shore, where they are broken 
into small pieces. A capacious hole is then dug, 
wherein fuel in immense logs is piled up till it 
assumes the appearance of a mound four or five 
feet high. On the outside of this, the pieces of 
coral are placed, twelve or eighteen inches thick. 
The pile is then kindled, the fuel consumed, and 
the lime, thus burnt, sinks into the pit. They are 
generally so impatient to see whether it is well 
burnt, that they throw water upon it often before 
the fire is extinct; and if they find it crumble and 
become pulverized, they cover it over wdth cocoa- 
nut leaves, and use it as occasion requires. 
The coral rock makes excellent lime, not perhaps 
so strong as that made from rock-limestone, but 
fine, beautifully white, and durable. It may be 
obtained in any quantity, but the labour of pro¬ 
curing the fuel necessary for preparing it on the 
present plan, is exceedingly irksome. Could they 
be induced to erect kilns, and burn it after the 
