Atlanta Constitution
Atlanta, Georgia
October 31, 1897
EXPEDITION FORMED TO EXPLORE AN ISLE OF MYSTERY
One of the Few Isolated Spots on the Globe Uninhabited By Man Is to Be Surveyed -- No One Knows Why This Fertile and Blooming Island Has Hitherto Been Unpeopled.
IT LIES TWO HUNDRED MILES SOUTH OF JAPAN
London. October 2: — (Special Correspondence,)— There has just set sail a scientific
expedition backed by the British museum, whose mission Is to explore an
island of mystery, nameless, and comparatively unknown. Vague rumors of its
existence have from time to time been wafted to civilization, and now for the first
time we are really in a fair way to know the solution of the mystery.
Some one has called it Christmas Island, probably because they sighted it on that day, but this name is not accepted and therefore the statement that the place is nameless is really correct. One or two vessels have sent boats. to this strange and mysterious land, and several parties who have landed therefrom searched in vain for sight of a human being. Clearly the land is fertile, and the tameness of its furred and feathered inhabitants shows that the hand of man has never yet wrought destruction.
It is only recently that the peculiar importance of a scientific exploration of
this island was realized. This appreciation was largely brought about by the
action of John Murray, of Edinburgh, who told the trustees of the British museum that he would defray the expenses of sending out a naturalist for the
purpose of collecting everything indigenous to this one island; He agreed to present the specimens collected to the museum, provided the trustees thereof would permit one of the officers to go out on this mission.
Mr. Murray suggested that the exploration should be undertaken without delay in order to obtain an accurate account of the "zoology and botany of the Island before the land was more permanently occupied by man and the native fauna and flora displaced by introduced forms of life. Needless to say the Trustees gladly availed themselves of this chance of enriching national collections with many specimens of species new to science, and they have, with the full concurrence of Sr. William Flower, accordingly dispatched Ofr. C. W. Andrews, of the department of geology In the Natural History museum, with instructions to make an exhaustive survey and exploration of this interesting island. The area is about 100 square miles the highest point being about 1,200 feet, so that a considerable variety of temperature and other conditions occur.
The fauna as far as known is remarkable for the large proportion of species peculiar to the island. Thus three of the five know mammals, all the land birds and four out of five land reptiles are endemic. Of insects, out of some thirty five species that have been determined, twenty-three were new. The results of careful collecting among the lower invertebrates, both of the shore and land, cannot fail to yield valuable and interesting scientific material.
A thorough study of the mammal fauna of Christmas island is of special importance also from a geographical point of view in relating to its connection with the Nicobar, Mentawi and Eogany series of islands--a series that is said to have once formed a long, narrow peninsula, parallel to, but separate from the Malay peninsula and Sumatra. A study of the available specimens from these places tends to confirm this suggestion, but much more material is wanted, particularly from Christmas Island, before the investigation can usefully be carried further.
In one respect the Island is fortunate, there are no wild animals, snakes or other creatures inimical to man. In selecting a trained geologist and naturalist for this enterprise, consideration was given to the great importance of a careful expert examination of the physical structure of the island and to the scientific value of a collection of specimens in illustration of the various volcanic and organically formed rocks of which it is composed, and of which nothing is as yet known.
From a botanical standpoint, the expedition not only possesses much interest, but it may be said to be even a matter of urgency in view of the chance it affords of obtaining evidence bearing on the question of the composition and relationship of island floras before the importation by man of weeds. Most of the Island is covered by thick forest growth, in which orchids and other epiphytes are very common, while it is probable that not of the flora is yet known; so that for the botanist a rich harvest may confidently be anticipated.
The question that has agitated not only the scientific men interested in this expedition, but the lay mind as well is, what can the reason be that land like this situated almost within reaching distance of those aggressive and piratical men, the Malays, should be absolutely without inhabitants? Is it due to periodical volcanic disturbances, of which the persons who have seen the Island say there is evidence, or do the superstitious Malays believe a spell bas been put upon it and that it is the home of spirits? Either of these reasons would be amply sufficient explanation of the uninhabited state of the Island.
Any one familiar with the habits of the residents of the coast of the peninsula knows that the sailors of that country are, as a rule, familiar with a greater portion of the islands in the Malayan archipelago. To be sure, this known land is away by itself but so far as limited observation has gone. It offers much inducement as one of those places so dreaded by trading ships—a headquarters pirates.
Notoriously the Malays are pirates. Wherever and whenever opportunity they murder and rob as regularly as a Frenchman smiles upon a pretty woman.
Parties of Malays have frequently visited islands and points of the mainland 800 miles distant. Many of them prefer to live at sea instead of on the land, voyage in all directions in search of- plunder, or merely because they wish to sail a certain way. How then can it be that parties of them have always missed this marvelous land? If it is all that has seemed to be, the chances are that it would have been promptly reported as a desirable place of residence. What, then, is the mystery?
It is estimated that it will be at least a year before the expedition which has just left England will complete its labors. This mysterious island is entirely off of the track of trading vessels. The nearest persons with whom communication could be gained are the Malays, the Malay peninsula being really a little nearer than Japan. The vessel which takes the expedition will not remain at the island, but, if the arrangement in existence when the expedition sailed holds good, will depart for a Chinese port, returning after the stormy season.
If the explorers are so fortunate as to return without injury, if one-half of what they believe they will learn is true, we may look forward to having in store for us a story of truth that will rival in every respect the most clever work of the most clever of modern fiction writers.
Daily Gazette
Xenia, Ohio
March 15, 1899
Forty Men Now "Living on Christmas Island
Which Was Said to be Worthless
There is no speck in the ocean big
enough to set foot on where men are
not settling down nowadays, if they
think there is a chance of making a
little money. This is how it happens
that about forty men are living to-day
on Christmas Island, one of the loneliest
spots in the Indian Ocean, about
200 miles south of Java. The island
is shaped something like a dumb-bell,
is about ten miles long, and in its widest part has a width of about five iles.
In 1887, the British surveying vessel
Flying Fish was ordered to make an
examination of the islands. It found
an anchorage in one of the little bays and a number of men were landed.
They reported that the island was of little value, and no serious attempt at exploration was made. A few years later it was discovered that rich beds of phosphate of lime are on the island and in 1890, Mr. Andrew Ross, brother of the man who owns the owns the Cocos Keeling Islands, made the journey to Christmas Island and decided that money was to be made by settling there. He went back for his family and a few men from Cocos and then returned to the island. Near the shores of Flying Fish Cove, a number of substantial houses have been erected. Wells have been sunk and fruit trees and cocoanut palms planted, and a small experimental plantation of coffee has also been made.
The results thus far leave no doubt that the
Island is well suited for coffee growing. In May, last year, Mr. Ross had
just imported a number of coolies
from Java to make the necessary preparations
for working the valuable deposits
of phosphate of lime. The population
then numbered about forty.
Most of the Island is covered with
forest. Its climate is delightful, and
during the greater part of the year resembles
a hot summer tempered by
sea breezes. In the rich phosphate
soil the trees grow to great height.
Animal life is seldom abundant on
oceanic islands, and Christmas Island is no exception. There are only five
species of mammals, two kinds of
rats, a shrewmouse and two bats.
The presence of the rats and the
mouse must be accounted for by supposing
that they drifted to the island
on floating wood, while the bats
reached it by flight. Owing to the
abundance of food and the absence of
enemies, the rats swarm everywhere.
Birds of passage appear in the rainy
season, and include many varieties.
The Evening Democrat
Warren, Pennsylvania
May 12, 1899
A SOUTH SEA STORY
A Modern Robinson Crusoe Found on Christmas Island.
An English naturalist has lately explored an island in the South Pacific only recently discovered, and named Christmas Island. It was not thought to be inhabited by man or beast. The naturalist was, however, astounded to run across a huge bamboo house in the center of the island, and saw every sign of luxury through its open porticos, while the surrounding country was laid out in beautiful gardens.
As he appeared in the open glade an aged white man left a stockade close to the house, and, followed by his native wife and children, with twenty black servants and concubines bringing up the rear, came toward him. The modern Robinson Crusoe either refused to speak or had forgotten his native tongue, for he made himself understood by signs, and this dumb show was to the effect that if the visitor did not leave the island at once it would be worse for him.
The white man, like the natives, wore no clothing except a loincloth made of skins. The natives treated Iheir white master with great reverence, evidently looking upon him as a big chief or a deity. The man's identity could not be learned.
—Cor. San Francisco Chronicle
