The China Sea directory - Sabrizain.org

CHA.P. IV.] KEELING OR COCOS ISLANDS. 225
and south-west sides of the group. New Selima, on which is the settle-
ment, composed of the Cocos or Malay village, and also the Bantam village,
lies on the north-east side of the group. Direction and Horsburgh islands
are the northern islets, between which is the channel to port Refuge,
available for vessels of 20 feet draught of water.
Outside and nearly all round the group a natural barrier protects the
lagoon, rendering it perfectly smooth inside. Seaward of this barrier, on
which the sea breaks continually, there is a sudden slope into deep water.
The greater portion of the lagoon, which is 9 miles in length, by about
6 in width, is filled with patches of growing coral, having deep water
between, but it is only navigable by boats.
The land is evidently rising and at some distant time will form a circular
island, surrounded by a crater like edge ; at present the land is nowhere
more than 20 feet above the sea. The tops of the cocoa-nut trees, with
which the whole of the islands are covered, may be seen from a distance
of about 16 miles.
Population.—George Clunies Eoss, grandson of Captain J. C. Ross,
is the present proprietor of the island ; five of his brothers also live on the
island, most of whom have received their education at the Scotch Uni-
versities. One of these is the doctor of the island, and another the captain
of the trading schooner. In 1885, the population including the Ross' fami-
lies, amounted to 195 males and 182 females ;
Cocos-born and Bantamese,
76 males and 63 females; making a total of 516.
Trade.— Supplies.—The exports are cocoa-nuts, copra, cocoa-nut
oil ; beche-de-mer, and mongkudu (a bark used for dyeing purposes)
amounting in value to about 22,000/. annually. The imports ai-e provisions
of all kinds, clothes, cutlery, guns, and most other necessaries of life.
Poultry is plentiful on the islands, and the lagoon abounds with fish.
On Direction island are some deer, and there are a few sheep on Settlement
island, but they are not for sale ;
jungle fowl are found on most of the large
islands. There are a few fruit trees, such as bananas, papaws, guavas, and
figs ; pumpkins grow plentifully, but other vegetables are to be obtained
only in small quantities. Water is plentiful and can be put on board at
the charge of 1 shillings per ton.
Vessels in distress can be assisted or hove down, and receive any repairs
which are not of great magnitude. A vessel of 178 tons has been built on
the island.
Conununication.—Produce for the European market is called for
once a year by a chartered vessel. Produce for Batavia is sent once a
month by the family schooner, which returns with the necessary supplies
for the islanders. One vessel from Australia annually, on an average,
calls for water ; between the years 1874 and 1885, eighteen vessels touched
for that purpose.
U 2066.5. p