| Show MAND A lonely place eliat has been visited for the first time pall aall gazetic Ga zetie Letters bave been received iler Maje ship egeria com wander pelham Aldrich containing par ticul ara of a has recent ly made to christmas island she was ordered to explore for eciek purposes the egeria claims to be the first vessel that has ever ex elored this island C brist mas island is situated in the indian ocean in latitude I 1 longitude 1050 sol E it is 1100 feet above the sea is twelve miles long and eight miles broad the egeria reached the island on september and remained there until oc tober the officers slid men told exploring purposes pui poses found that the place was com posed of coral and rock ing ahls however it ais covered al most completely with trees and shrubs the trees which are of large dimensions seeming to grow out of the rock itself earth surfaces being by their absence it is by human be ings nor could any traces of ani mals be discovered but sea birds swarm over every part of the island and about four hundred wood pigeons were shot by the explorers while they remained there no fruits or vegetable matter fit fur consumption ron could however be found nor the exi teace of any sup ply of fresh water and the belief is that the vegetation of the island is dependent for nourishment on the dews abid heavy rains that fall tile various specimens collected of birds plants and insects carefully preserved on board under ther direction of mr liaberi Lia teri the well known naturalist who went specially to the island ia the egeria will be sent home for the british museum and kew gardens |
