The Wilmingtonian., 1824-04-29
From Whites Voyages to the China Sea-
CORAL LEDGES AND SHOALS.


"Tbe island OF Luconia is the largest
and most important of all the Philippines
1T is of an oblsng, obtuse angular form; ly-
ins in the general direction of south-south.
east aud north-north-west, and the angular
point is on the west side. The northern
section is the broadest, being in the widest
part forty leagues over, from cast to west
but its average breadth is considerable less
than this.--rhe fine bay Of Manila. thirty
leagues in circumference, is situated near
the middle OF the west side of the island,
and has good and clear anchorage in all
parts of it, excepting on coral ledge, cal.
led the Shoa of st. Nicholas which is the
only invisible danger in the bay. The
dangerous part Of it is, however. of small
extent, and with proper attention easily "a
voided the least water found on it at pre-
sent is eleven feet, but its summit is con-
constantly approaching the surface of the
sea, as has been ascertaned by surveys
made at different periods by order. ntgov-
crnment, which circumstance seems1to in
dicate the presence of Noophytes, that
compound of animal and vegetable life.
whose incessant and rapid labours. and. as
we are told by naturalists, whose polypus-
like powers of receiving perfect form and
vitality intonumberlcss, dismembered por-
tions of their bodies, have long excited
much curiosity aud admiration.-These
small compouna animals, commence their
operation at the bottom of the sea. and pro-
ceed upwards, towardsthe surface, spread
ing themselves in various rsnifcaticns
the older members of the mass become con-
crete, petrify, and form dangerous shoals
the superior portion Of these little colon
, lists always being the last produced, in its
turn generates myriads Of other, and SO
on, I'd infimtam, till they reach the sur
. face of the ncean.-T'hese coral reefs and
, shoals are found in most parts OF the world
within the tropics but the waters of the
eastern hemisphere seem to be peculiarly
, congenial to their production, q nd, indeed
4 there appear to be certain spaces or regions
: in these seas, which ara their favorite
: haunts. Among many others may bemen,
= toned the Mozambique channel, and that
: tract of ocean, from the eastern coast o
+. Africa, quite across to the coast of Malabar
;. including the Mahe, Chagas, Maldive aat
E Laccadive archipelagos the south east
Y ern part of the China sea between Cele
e hes and Java; the coasts Of all the Sunds
l. islands and various places in the Pacific
n ocean. These shoals, when they begin t,
e emerge from the sea, are frequented b,
# aquatic fowls, whose feathers, and othey
e deposites, combined with the fortuitou
j. landing of drifts of wood, weeds, and vari
10 Gus other substances from the adiacen
S, lands, in the course of time form superb
,c queops banks of considerable elevation
"a and the broken fragments of coral throw
ID up by the waves. slowly. but constantly in
ut crease their horizontal diameter. Coco
,g nuts are frequently seen floating upon tn
y sea in these regions, some of which are
n. doubt thrown upon the shores of the ney
I'd created lands; from which accidental ci,
e. cumstance this fruit is there propagate,
in Vagrant birds deposit the germs of VI
ly rious other productions of the vegetabl
d. kingdom, which in due season spring u
a and clothc their surfaces with verdure
py and the natural accumulation of dead an
,ir putrid vegetation, serves to assist in tn
u formation Of a rich and productive soil, an
nd to increase the attitudes of these new ere,
m tons; As have been always much anu