To some of these Jack put questions through the medium of the
missionary; and the replies were such as to surprise us at the extent
of their knowledge. Indeed, Peterkin very truly remarked that "they
seemed to know a considerable deal more than Jack himself!"
Among other pieces of interesting information that we obtained was the
following, in regard to coral formations:--
"The islands of the Pacific," said our friend, "are of three different
kinds or classes. Those of the first class are volcanic, mountainous,
and wild; some shooting their jagged peaks into the clouds at an
elevation of ten and fifteen thousand feet. Those of the second class
are of crystallised limestone, and vary in height from one hundred to
five hundred feet. The hills on these are not so wild or broken as
those of the first class, but are richly clothed with vegetation, and
very beautiful. I have no doubt that the Coral Island on which you were
wrecked was one of this class. They are supposed to have been upheaved
from the bottom of the sea by volcanic agency, but they are not
themselves volcanic in their nature, neither are they of coral
formation. Those of the third class are the low coralline islands,
usually having lagoons of water in their midst; they are very numerous.
"As to the manner 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.
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