Beagle Expedition (1831-1836); Coral reefs and islands; Geology -- South America; Islands; Volcanoes
been unable to decide to which class these reefs belong. From the
distance to which they extend from the land, where the sea is very
deep, I am strongly inclined to believe they ought to come within the
barrier class, and be coloured blue; but I have been forced to leave
them uncoloured.—The last-mentioned groups are connected with the east
end of Ceram by a chain of small islands, of which the small groups of
_Ceram-laut_, _Goram_ and _Keffing_ are surrounded by very extensive
reefs, projecting into deep water, which, as in the last case, I
strongly suspect belong to the barrier class; but I have not coloured
them. From the south side of Keffing, the reefs project five miles
(Windsor Earl’s “Sailing Direct. for the Arafura Sea,” page 9).
CERAM.—In various charts which I have examined, several parts of the
coast are represented as fringed by reefs.—_Manipa_ Island, between
Ceram and Bourou, in an old MS. chart in the Admiralty, is fringed by a
very irregular reef, partly dry at low water, which I do not doubt is
of coral-formation; both islands coloured red.—_Bourou;_ parts of this
island appear fringed by coral-reefs, namely, the eastern coast, as
seen in Freycinet’s chart; and _Cajeli Bay_, which is said by Horsburgh
(volume ii., page 630) to be lined by coral-reefs, that stretch out a
little way, and have only a few feet water on them. In several charts,
portions of the islands forming the AMBOINA GROUP are fringed by reefs;
for instance, _Noessa_, _Harenca_, and _Ucaster_, in Freycinet’s
charts. The above-mentioned islands have been coloured red, although
the evidence is not very satisfactory.—North of Bourou the parallel
line of the _Xulla Isles_ extends: I have not been able to find out
anything about them, excepting that Horsburgh (volume ii., page 543)
says that the northern shore is surrounded by a reef at the distance of
two or three miles; uncoloured.—_Mysol Group;_ the Kanary Islands are
said by Forrest (“Voyage,” page 130) to be divided from each other by
deep straits, and are lined with coral-rocks; coloured red.—_Guebe_,
lying between Waigiou and Gilolo, is engraved as if fringed; and it is
said by Freycinet, that all the soundings under five fathoms were on
coral; coloured red.—_Gilolo_. In a chart published by Dalrymple, the
numerous islands on the western, southern (_Batchian_ and the _Strait
of Patientia_), and eastern sides appear fringed by narrow reefs; these
reefs, I suppose, are of coral, for it is said in “Malte Brun” (volume
xii., page 156), “Sur les cotes (of Batchian) comme _dans le plupart_
des iles de cet archipel, il y a de rocs de medrepores d’une beauté et
d’une variété infinies.” Forrest, also (page 50), says Seland, near
Batchian, is a little island with reefs of coral; coloured red.—_Morty_
Island (north of Gilolo). Horsburgh (volume ii., page 506) says the
northern coast is lined by reefs, projecting one or two miles, and
having no soundings close to them; I have left it uncoloured, although,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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