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Coral reefs)

Class IV) = ed, with a multitude of small islands, shoals lying to the northward and Eastward of Cuba and St. Domingo, is included in this division. The Bahama islands (a)* according to a writer in the United Service Journal,* amount to nearly five hundred in number, and lie in a space estimated to be three hundred and twelve square miles. New Providence is described "as more hilly than most of the islands, the surface being composed of rock and sand intermixed with sea shells." Again after naming several islands, it is said "all these are inhabitants except Inagua, which is even less elevated above the sea than its low neighbours."

Geographical Description

I have quoted these passages to give general idea of the form of the land. I understand that the small outer Cays which are only just on a level with the surface, consist of sand and coral. Humboldt* talking of the enormous coral shoals which surround Cuba, remarks that if the water should fall twenty or thirty feet, an island larger than Hayti would be produced: he says that Cays are composed of a coral agglomerate. To the Northward, the great Bahama bank has an extremely level bottom of sand. The linear form of the numerous low islets has probably been caused by the direction of the gulf stream. It is well known, that there exist numerous proofs of elevation
(b)*
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(a)* United Service Journal Nos: CXXI P: 218 and 224.

(b)* Personal Narrative Vol. VII P: 51 and 87

'Proteus'. 1834. The Bahama Islands. United Service Journal and Naval and Military Magazine 3: 215-226.

Humboldt, Alexander von. 1819-1829. Personal narrative of travels to the equinoctial regions of the New Continent, during the years 1799-1804. By Alexander de Humboldt, and Aimé Bonpland; with maps, plans, &c. written in French by Alexander de Humboldt, and trans. into English by Helen Maria Williams. 7 vols. London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown. vol. 7. Text