CHAPTER XI.

Voyage from Port Darwin to Singapore--Through the Eastern Archipelago--We arrive at Singapore--Oceanic "Tiderips"--Bird Island, Seychelles--Sea-birds on Land--Port Mahé, Seychelles--The Coco-de-Mer--Gigantic Tortoise--Produce of the Islands--Vanilla--A Primitive Crushing-mill--Dredging Operations--_Periophthalmus_--The Seychelles, of Granitic Structure--We visit the Amirante Group--African Islands--Abundance of _Orbitolites_--Crabs pursued by Eels--Eagle Island--Partridge shooting--Young Lizards--Darros Island--_Casuarinas_--Dredging--Poivre Island--Trees and Shrubs--Isle des Roches--Flora scanty--Land-birds--General Remarks on the Amirantes as a Group--"Fringing Reefs," but no "Barrier Reefs"--Signs of Elevation--Weather and Lee Sides contrasted 209-229