270 - ALL ABOARD FOR SUNRISE LANDS.

collect on this coral-ring, seed and soil finally gathering there, and the
next thing to. be seen isa cocoa-nut tree; and then by and by a whole
grove is there. Outside these atolls roll the breakers, rushing violently
up the beach of powdered white coral; but within the atoll, the water is
smooth and placid. The color of the inside water is that of a bright
green.”

“Sea-water! How can de sea-water get in? To le corals leab a
door open in de ring?” inquired Siah.

“ There is generally an entrance to these atolls, rings or lagoons, as

oe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A LAGGON.

they also are sometimes called, the water flowing in and out; and as the
entrance is on the leeward side, it is a smooth one. Whethersthe polyps
leave that gate open, I can’t say. It has been thought that they build
on the tops of sunken land, hills and the like, and the opening is that
natural one where the water among the hills once found its way out,
and the ocean-tides now keep it open. The polyps can not work at a