The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1855-08-10

chudn set down IOT tnree DAYS. Ell CTS OF PAD
dc.
Damphool called to see me; talked politics !:
told him should vote for Stevens. He said !
shnuldn'r had sworn not to; told him I'd quit
said II did I'd lose my custom, K N. wouldn't
tt 'dr with me. ca me 'trhor, peri urer, and all
thai. Don't know what to do; reckon III have
to stick TO 'em.-AugNsta C0"Stitutionolst.
Coral Reefs.
In the great archipelago of the RnGack and Ra.
dick l-ards Tor The Marsha! Islands, as they are
Something's cGIled) extending over a space OF four
0 Fl We hundred mics, not ii stone or fragment Of
Il rock is be seen Oh"r than coral; all The old
Lands, with their hard rocks, have disappeared be-
meath he sea; and 81 valuable are even the small
lest pebbles OF hard rock that whenever drift
tree IS thrown ashore on one of The islands, its
roots are Instantly searched, and any little stones
that en'nnghd therein are carried to the chief
as 'drpits belonging TO the crown"
The aspect oc these ''atolis," as they called
i peculiar. The dark clear blue water of The
ia homablt ocean rolls around Them, kept in oEg
gentle undulafIonS by the perpetual breath and
impulse OF h- trad" wind. This long, lazy swell
meeting suddenly with The obstruction of the steep
wall OF The reef lifts itself into vast wide, conrin-
ridges -! blue water, that rising higher and
high r. at las: roll over and tall on the outer edge
OF the sect in broad caarncts Of foam. One great
ring of snow whi,e surf thus envircns The " hole
re- mass except ii Ihr leeward openings, lor ming
ii we'll marked boundary between the De epbue Of
the ocean and The bright grass green water Of the
tranquil and comparatively shallow Iagoos Inside.
The Irtlie iies on he ring Of the reef are margin
rd by b'achrs OF g'it'"rlng white sand, covered
wth gr. ru> hes, and often crowned by the plant
aud nuy waving ?lumes OF the graceful,
E.a berry Cocoa palm. The elements Of the scene
few and simple; yet it is not only b"autilul.
hui most impressive. The bl ght contrast Of the
color under tropical sun, with the clear
deep sky overhead and the few piled up, noun.
famous and stationary clouds, looking like towers
Of wnopacks. vi hch characteristic of the Pa.
cfc h,riznn, Phrases aud satisfies the eye, while
the mind cannot fail to be moved with the conem.
pla,ion Of such wnndrrful results springing from
the apparently an'agnnis'ic, but really uDed
ton OF the great forces of nature. The great IN
Iernal dlstuI bng agencies. and The desr nc.
iion Of waves and winds are together sci at . f.
ancc and overcome by The vital energies and pow
crs of such an insl Snhcant animal as little
polyP.
The high islands of the Pacific, whether sur
ROUNDED by an eEcrclng barrier Of reel or not,
have likewise generally many features in common.
They rise into lofty peaks and ridges in III" lnte-
ri"r, grass grown bur bar" Of trees, from which
rndarc many buress like rdSrs separated from
each other by deep and precIplt"uS r"vnes that
open into valleys as they proceed towards the sea.
Each raoiHtng rdg &c has It's sl's also closely and
d"rply furrow"d by rocky gins that run straight
from its crest on either side Into the VALLEYS. and
each ends freq fently in craggy prnm"htOry that
JUS into the SEA, ith dark pr cipIcrs Of dnk rock
III" valley from each other. Over all
the lower p,rts of the ridges. we'll in the
depth Of the valleys and ravines, spread dark. UNI
brag"ous fnre>fs, while groves OF cocoa. palms,
b mboo>, brradfruits and The b. Dad lrafed banana
extend across the more open and level trhcts.-
ndrr b 81 trees The inhabitants build their hufs,
cultivate their glrdrnS and lead their simple AMI
light hea rt-t. lives lf such island have an
clrcIlng rect the lagoon between 1t aud the land
forms tranquil sea-nke or natural harbnr in
which the nativ's may di>pnrt themselves, while
as he reef often c"s"s in upon the land and cuts
this of where he preCirnnS dividing ridges that
bound each valley strike int" the sea, ii unfrr
qn"nty haPprr@ that ntl CT nj valleys have n"
easy m-th"d Of communication either by land or
water, and are thus ap TO form isolated Districts
the inhabitants of u hch are oitcn at "nmI'y with
each oth+r.-DubLjn Unjrcrsi,y Maga-iHe.