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Christmas Island Archives Christmas Island (Indian Ocean) - Ruins, relics, stories and other interesting things

Christmas Island (Indian Ocean) - Ruins, relics, stories and other interesting things

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“Doomed to a disappointment”

Benjamin Lincoln Ball M.D.This is a unique and entertaining little excerpt about Christmas Island and though quite short, I thought it should be shared. It is part of the much larger story that an adventuring American dentist, Benjamin Lincoln Ball M.D. tells in his 1855 book “Rambles in eastern Asia, including China and Manilla: during several years’ residence (1848-1850)”.

Benjamin set sail from Boston Harbour, Massachusetts on the 8th May 1848 for a grand 4 month adventure that was to turn into four years. This was a time of sea adventure and exploration; where weather and fate could be unpredictable and navigation difficult. Benjamin would have perhaps chosen the ship and captain with care.

The Thomas W. Sears” is considered a first class vessel – a ship, I think they said, of about eight hundred tons. Captain Graves, from Salem, has the reputation of being a good seaman, and fully competent to the command. Mr Hood, of Salem, and Mr Burgess, of Barnstable, are the first and second officers, and are competent to the discharge of their duties. With these, and twenty fine, hardy sailors for a crew, we, the three passengers, think we shall not regret having committed ourselves to their care for the next four months.

Two months later, in July, he would write about his anticipated exploration on Christmas Island. Captain Graves gave a most imaginative description of the island.

We expect, if the weather holds good, to see Christmas Island towards night. Mr. R. and I think of going ashore, should it be calm when we reach there. It is an island of some three or four miles across, and covered with trees, bushes, and rocks. Only two or three persons have ever landed there. The captain offers to send some men with us in the boat, but will not go himself. He declares there is nothing there but venomous snakes, porcupines, poisonous insects, and a host of wild animals; and he says, “I will not step my foot among the bushes.” However, with pistols, sword-canes, dirks, &c., I think that we may venture to see what they keep there.
…
The captain is at his figures; he has just been taking an observation, but cannot get an accurate one till twelve o’clock. He made out, by dead reckoning, that we are in a latitude 10 deg 3′ south, longitude 105 deg east; and has arrived at the conclusion that we have passed Christmas Island. We are, however, still looking for it.

It is now one o’clock. Our doubts and desires are all settled; we now have the true reckoning, and find that we have drifted twenty-five miles to the westward, by the treacherous westerly current. Had it not been for that, we should not have been doomed to a disappointment. We must give up Christmas Island; and now, then, for Java next, though a sight of that seems dubious; for, of all the land we have passed, we have not yet seen any.

Benjamin went on to have more adventures and if you are curious about this most interesting man, as I was, you can read more about him here.

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Christmas Island Archives was selected for preservation by the State Library of Western Australia. It is now listed in perpetuity on PANDORA, Australia’s website archive established by the National Library of Australia.

Grant acknowledgement

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The base ruins of the Assistant Manager/Chief Engi The base ruins of the Assistant Manager/Chief Engineers house. It was once a substantial colonial home from the 1930s with beautiful gardens. It was still being occupied in June 1965 but by the 1970s it had been abandoned and neglected and fell into decay. The decision to demolish it was taken by a meeting of the CI Club members in 1977.
#christmasisland #ruin #ruins #history #historicalruins #colonialhouse #jungleruins #jungle #christmasislandarchives
A sound from the past Footsteps upon the stair I A sound from the past 
Footsteps upon the stair
I turned around quickly
But no-one was there.
#christmasislandarchives #ruins #steps #ghost #christmasisland
When exploring this old ruin at South Point on Chr When exploring this old ruin at South Point on Christmas Island with my sister-in-law, she noticed a bracket type fixture. It is located in the back corner where the white arrow indicates in the main picture. Were these meant for chains and shackles?
#christmasisland #history #shackles #oldstructure #christmasislandarchives #ruin #southpointchristmasisland
A photo of probably the first Chinese temple to be A photo of probably the first Chinese temple to be built on Christmas Island c1902-1904. This site is in Settlement at the Temple Court area on Gaze Road. The original temple, shown here in black and white, appears to have been replaced in later years by the current one (scroll across) still standing on the original site. It is today known as the Tai Pak Kong temple - Tua Pek Kong (Chinese: 大伯公; Tâi-lô: Tuā-peh-kong).
#christmasisland #taoisttemple #chinesetemple #christmasislandarchives #culture #taoist
“In the universe, there are things that are know “In the universe, there are things that are known, and things that are unknown, and in between, there are doors.” ~ William Blake
I think the old wooden banners around the door may have been rescued when a nearby temple was being renovated many years ago? I'm not sure about this, so if anyone can tell me their origin that would be great.
#christmasisland #chinesedoor #reddoor #christmasislandarchives
Just one of many fascinating stories that were exh Just one of many fascinating stories that were exhibited at my Faded Lost Forgotten exhibition held on Christmas Island during Territory Week in 2021 and 2022.
#christmasisland #christmasislandhistory #cemetery #headstone #gravesite #grave #arab #forgottenplaces #lostcemetery #kubur #christmasislandarchives
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