er in which coral islands and reefs are formed; there are
various opinions on this point. I will give you what seems to me the
most probable theory,--a theory, I may add, which is held by some of the
good and scientific missionaries. It is well known that there is much
lime in salt water; it is also known that coral is composed of lime. It
is supposed that the polypes, or coral insects, have the power of
attracting this lime to their bodies; and with this material they build
their little cells or habitations. They choose the summit of a volcano,
or the top of a submarine mountain, as a foundation on which to build;
for it is found that they never work at any great depth below the
surface. On this they work; the polypes on the mountain top, of course,
reach the surface first, then those at the outer edges reach the top
sooner than the others between them and the centre, thus forming the
coral reef surrounding the lagoon of water and the central island; after
that the insects within the lagoon cease working. When the surface of
the water is reached, these myriads of wonderful creatures die. Then
birds visit the spot, and seeds are thus conveyed thither, which take
root, and spring up, and flourish. Thus are commenced those coralline
islets of which you have seen so many in these seas. The reefs round the
large islands are formed in a similar manner. When we consider," added
the missionary, "the smallness of the architects used by our heavenly
Father in order to form those lovely and innumerable islands, we are
filled with much of that feeling which induced the ancient king to
exclaim, 'How manifold, O God, are thy works! in wisdom thou hast made
them all.'"

We all heartily agreed with the missionary in this sentiment, and felt
not a little gratified to find that the opinions which Jack and I had
been led to form from personal observation on our Coral Island were thus
to a great extent corroborated.

The missionary also gave us an account of the manner in which
Christianity had been introduced among them. He said: "When missionaries
were first sent here, three years ago, a small vessel brought them; and
the chief, who is now dead, promised to treat well the two native
teachers who were left with their wives on the island. But scarcely had
the boat which landed them returned to the ship, than the natives began
to maltreat their guests, taking away all they possessed, and offering
them further violence, so that