to be found in recently elevated coral-rock, or in barrier coral-
reefs, indicating recent submergence. In the very centre or focus
of the great curve of volcanoes is placed the large island of
Borneo, in which no sign of recent volcanic action has yet been
observed, and where earthquakes, so characteristic of the
surrounding regions, are entirely unknown. The equally large
island of New Guinea occupies another quiescent area, on which no
sign of volcanic action has yet been discovered. With the
exception of the eastern end of its northern peninsula, the large
and curiously-shaped island of Celebes is also entirely free from
volcanoes; and there is some reason to believe that the volcanic
portion has once formed a separate island. The Malay Peninsula is
also non-volcanic.

The first and most obvious division of the Archipelago would
therefore be into quiescent and volcanic regions, and it might,
perhaps, be expected that such a division would correspond to
some differences in the character of the vegetation and the forms
of life. This is the case, however, to a very limited extent; and
we shall presently see that, although this development of
subterranean fires is on so vast a scale--has piled up chains of
mountains ten or twelve thousand feet high--has broken up
continents and raised up islands from the ocean--yet it has all
the character of a recent action which has not yet succeeded in
obliterating the traces of a more ancient distribution of land
and water.

Contrasts of Vegetation.--Placed immediately upon the Equator and
surrounded by extensive oceans, it is not surprising that the
various islands of the Archipelago should be almost always