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Historic Clunies-Ross rock carving revealed

The jungle and scrub hides much on Christmas Island. But during the dry season as the lush vegetation dies back tracks become visible again and structures may be revealed. It was during the 1987 dry season that Ian Foster (author of “A teacup in a storm” article) found himself exploring an area near the downhill conveyor.

Ian said “It was a very dry season that year and many trees on the steep slopes were virtually leafless. It was unusually easy to get into scrubland that was normally almost impossible.”

These conditions proved ideal for a historic footnote to be revealed. Carved into the rock face in upper case letters, six years before mining even commenced on the Island, was the following. Explanatory notes are in [  ] brackets:

ROAD TO PHOSPHATE HILL
MADE BY C C-ROSS [Charles 1845 -1910]
A F C- … [Andrew Ferguson 1855 -1915]
J S C- … [John Sydney 1868 – 1944]
AND 6 COCOS BOYS
17 SEPT 1894

Clunies Ross Rock Carving 1896
Photo used with kind permission. © Ian Foster

Ian’s black camera case can be seen in the lower part of the photo to provide a scale of measure. 

As a point of interest two parts of the Clunies-Ross 1894 track to Phosphate Hill are shown on a 1916 map. In his book “Suffering through strength” John Hunt says that the path was called Ngau Che Lo (Bullock-Cart Road). After the settlement on Phosphate Hill was established in 1905 company European staff and white visitors were given ponies or horses to ride up this path.

Part of a map showing Clunies Ross path to Phosphate Hill
Part of a 1916 map from the UK Hydrographic Office

The Clunies-Ross carving is a very significant historical marker and probably the earliest known written mark left on Christmas Island. This archaeological site is quite amazing! 

 

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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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An ammunition cave used by the Japanese during the An ammunition cave used by the Japanese during their occupation of Christmas Island in WW2. The circular opening in the wall is where I believe a ventilation pipe was inserted. Its purpose was to keep a stable temperature and extract noxious fumes. Its use as an ammunition cave may have predated WW2. To find out more about this cave read Helena van der Riet's excellent thesis "The Archaeology of the Japanese World War II Occupation of Christmas Island". It can be found on my website (see link in my bio) under the "Documents" section. 
#christmasisland #cave #ammunition #ww2 #ww2history #worldwar2 #worldwar2history #japaneseoccupation #ww2japanese #christmasislandarchives
I love Victor Purcell's observations of human beha I love Victor Purcell's observations of human behaviour on Christmas Island in 1926. The European community caused him the most angst.
#christmasisland #christmasislandhistory #history #islandlife #colonial #straitssettlements #christmasislandarchives
An old water tank near South Point located along t An old water tank near South Point located along the old railway track. I understand that a couple of years ago it was totally overgrown by the jungle and was invisible until it was cleared.
#christmasisland #ruin #relic #industrialrelic #watertank #colonial #christmasislandarchives
Back in 2020 as we were leaving the Old European C Back in 2020 as we were leaving the Old European Cemetery my sis-in-law @mily_barrett spotted this now 72 year old engraving in the concrete path. A nice little reminder from a long gone workman that he was once doing a job there.
"1.7.1951
Pipe Repar" ... 
The last seen letter is partially obscured. The word repair has likely been misspelt?
#christmasisland #history #christmasislandhistory #relic #cemetery #path #oldpath #christmasislandarchives
A sad end for Norman Howard. His gravesite lies in A sad end for Norman Howard. His gravesite lies in the Old European Cemetery on Christmas Island. His story and the mystery loss of his headstone lead to a surprising misidentification of his gravesite. Read about it now on my website. See bio for link. Look under “latest updates” for “Norman Howard - turning in his grave”.
"In memory of Norman Howard
European Overseer
Aged 32
Died 6.3.24"
#christmasisland #straitssettlements #christmasislandhistory #cemetery #headstone #gravesite #grave #colonialhistory #christmasislandarchives
Straits settlement 1 cent coins that I found parti Straits settlement 1 cent coins that I found partially buried. The verdigris colour of one of them caught my eye. How I came to be in that specific spot to find them is another whole story LOL. I donated them to the Island's Tai Jin House museum.
Left top to bottom:
Tails side “Straits Settlements 1936”.
Head side “George V King and Emperor of India” 
Right top to bottom:
Tails side “Commissioners of Currency Malaya 1939”
Head side “George VI King Emperor”
There was another 1 cent coin found along with these as well and was dated 1943. 
I am not sure if such a small denomination would have been used for gambling? However, it has been told that on the Island when Straits Settlement coins were no longer a viable currency they would be saved and then scattered/given as offerings to the good brothers during the Hungry Ghost month. I found these coins during that very month in an area that metal detectorists had been over previously. Perhaps the coins were revealed to me 🙂
#christmasisland #christmasislandhistory #christmasislandrelic #relic #relichunting #indianoceanislands #ghostmonth #straitssettlementscoins #straitssettlements #oldcoins #christmasislandarchives
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