, 1898-09-14
CHRISTMAS ISLAND.
(From the Times }

There are three Christmas Islands scat
tered over the ocean the most interesting
from a scientific point of view being thai
which lies som $50 miles south west of
Java. 1t has AN area OF only about 20 SQUARE
miles, and until the last few years has never,
80 far as is know, been inhabited by man.
Recently one of the Ross's of the KneelinQ
Islands had taken up his residence at the one
accessible point on the coast, with a few
coolies. for the purpose mainly Of working
the very valuable phosphate deposites on
q the island, on behalf of the small company
who lease the island from the British Gov
ernment. The island has at various times
been visited by her Majesty's survey ships.
but its interesting interior had never been
explored. About Is months ago, Sir Johu
Murray of the Challenger, who is one of the
owners of the island. sent OUT at his own
expense Mr.. c.. W. Andrews of the geological
department of the Natural History Museum,
with q companion, to the island for the
purpose of exploring it in the interests Of
science. 1t is q virgin island, the fora aud
the fauna of which are believed to have
remained from the b'ginning uninfuenced
by man, and therefore The study Of these, as
we'll as of the geOI'gy OF the island was
expected to yield valuable results. Mr..
Andrews has just returned TO England, and
the resul 8 are likely to fulfil the highest
expectations. But Mr.. Andrews pursued his
labOurs under The greatest difficulty. The
island is ,2O0ft. high, but so 1enseIy covered
with gigantic forest vegetation and bush
that the members of the little COLONY on the
shore have never been able to move q mile
from homo. The only available drink.
ing water is supplied by n spring on the
shore, and as the cliffs are lofty and precipi-
tous it is difficult in the extreme to convey the
water into the int Tor. This will give some
idea of the difficulties which MIR. Andrews
had 10 face in making his way over the island.
AS II matter of fact, with.the help which he
found available, his rate of progress was not
more than two miles a day. The islandmore.
over, swarm5 with gigantic land.crabs and
rats, which however interesting from a scien-
tific point of view, are plaques 10 the explorer.
Mr.. Andrews Ind often to sleep out unpro-
tccted by Il tent, and had TO adapt Himself as
best he could to having his toes nipped by
the formidable pincers of the crabs, and his
body scamporod over by hundreds of rats.
The only chance of survival for animals in
Christmas island is their ability to climb
trees AMI swing lianas; and both rats and
ON""o "O ~ "NNOHplouCQ dL tIllS dS AuOuAcEo
in an African forest. Mr.. Andrews mas
brought home amp e collections of these and
of the other animal life which abounds on the
island, tue insects especially being particu-
ly rich. The fora of the island, also, rs
abnndantly represented in Mr.. Andrews's
collections, as we'll as geology and other
branches of science. To biologists especially
the island Is of great interest. The core Of
island IL volcanic bnt OririnolIv q oOrnI
reef occupied the position. The original
rect, or :atoll, it is believed, now forms the
cap or summit Of the island, and at intervals
dOwnwards. coral bands exists, which seem
to indicate that the elevation must have
been gradual, and at considerable intervals.
These are among some of the valuable results
brought back by Mr.. Andrews, and science
owes a debt of gratitude to Sir John Murray
tor his liberal enterprise in equipping the ex-
9ed!Iion. MIR. Andrews will probably give