Christmas Island

Abstract

HAVING read with much interest the description of Christmas Island by Captain Aldrich and Mr. Lister, I have endeavoured to interpret some of the facts there given in the light of my own examination of similar islands in the Western Pacific. As pointed out by Captain Wharton, the complete casing of an island, 1200 feet in height, with coral rock is somewhat unusual. This may find its explanation in in the absence of stream courses and ravines, a circumstance from which I infer that the island has not been exposed sufficiently long, since its upheaval, to the denuding agencies. When its surface has been extensively carved out by the action of running water, the old volcanic peak, which these upraised reefs envelop, will in all probability be exposed. Christmas Island, therefore, has still the early part of its story to unfold.