CHAPTER XIX

Sydney-Excursion to Bathurst-Aspect of the woods-Party of natives-Gradual

extinction of the aborigines-Infection generated by associated men in health-

Blue Mountains-View of the grand gulf-like valleys-Their origin and forma-

tion-Bathurst, general civility of the lower orders-State of Society-Van

Diemen's Land-Hobart Town-Aborigines all banished-Mount Wellington

-King George's Sound-Cheerless aspect of the country-Bald Head,

calcareous casts of branches of trees-Party of natives-Leave Australia

Pages 459-480

CHAPTER XX

Keeling Island-Singular appearance-Scanty Flora-Transport of seeds-Birds and

insects-Ebbing and flowing springs-Fields of dead coral-Stones transported

in the roots of trees-Great crab-Stinging corals-Coral-eating fish-Coral

formations-Lagoon islands or atolls-Depth, at which reef-building corals can

live—Vast areas interspersed with low coral islands—Subsidence of their founda-

tions-Barrier-reefs-Fringing-reefs-Conversion of fringing-reefs into barrier-

reefs, and into atolls-Evidence of changes in level-Breaches in barrier-reefs-

Maldiva atolls; their peculiar structure-Dead and submerged reefs-Areas

of subsidence and elevation -Distribution of volcanoes-Subsidence slow and

vast in amount

481-512

CHAPTER XXI

Mauritius, beautiful appearance of—Great crateriform ring of mountains—Hindoos—

St. Helena History of the changes in the vegetation-Cause of the extinction of

land-shells-Ascension-Variation in the imported rats-Volcanic bombs-Beds

of infusoria-Bahia, Brazil-Splendour of tropical scenery-Pernambuco-

Singular reefs-Slavery-Return to England-Retrospect on our voyage

513-538

INDEX

539-551

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

H.M.S BEAGLE IN STRAITS OF MAGELLAN. MT. SARMIENTO

PAGE

FOSSIL TOOTH OF HORSE (from Bahia Blanca).

To face 125

128

129

133

134

OPUNTIA GALAPAGEIA

AVA OR KAVA (Macropiper methysticum), TAHITI

EIMEO AND BARRIER-REEF

MAP OF THE WORLD, SHOWING THE TRACK OF H.M.S.

BEAGLE

To face 504

507

512

513

517

524

529

531

538

At end.