Beagle Expedition (1831-1836); Coral reefs and islands; Geology -- South America; Islands; Volcanoes
MARSHALL GROUP.—We are well acquainted with this group from the
excellent charts of the separate islands, made during the two voyages
of Kotzebue: a reduced one of the whole group may be easily seen in
Krusenstern’s “Atlas,” and in Kotzebue’s “Second Voyage.” The group
consists (with the exception of two _little_ islands which probably
have had their lagoon filled up) of a double row of twenty-three large
and well-characterised atolls, from the examination of which Chamisso
has given us his well-known account of coral-formations. I include
_Gaspar-Rico_, or _Cornwallis_ Island in this group, which is described
by Chamisso (Kotzebue’s “First Voyage,” volume iii., page 179) “as a
low sickle-formed group, with mould only on the windward side.” Gaspard
Island is considered by some geographers as a distinct island lying
N.E. of the group, but it is not entered in the chart by Krusenstern;
left uncoloured. In the S.W. part of this group lies _Baring_ Island,
of which little is known (see Krusenstern’s “Appendix,” 1835, page
149). I have left it uncoloured; but _Boston_ Island I have coloured
blue, as it is described (Ibid.) as consisting of fourteen small
islands, which, no doubt, enclose a lagoon, as represented in a chart
in the “‘Coquille’s’ Atlas.”—Two islands, _Aur Kawen_ and _Gaspar
Rico_, are written in the French chart with capital letters; but this
is an error, for from the account given by Chamisso in Kotzebue’s
“First Voyage,” they are certainly low. The nature, position, and even
existence, of the shoals and small islands north of the Marshall group,
are doubtful.
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