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The Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands, also called the Keeling Islands, is a territory of Australia, located in the Indian Ocean, southwest of Christmas Island and approximately midway between Australia and Sri Lanka. The territory consists of two atolls and 27 coral islands, of which two, West Island and Home Island, are inhabited with a total population of approximately 600. A Scottish merchant seaman named Captain John Clunies-Ross explored the islands in 1825, aiming to settle on them with his family. Alexander Hare, who had taken part in Stamford Raffles' takeover of Java in 1811 landed and settled with his slaves who originated from Indonesia and the Cape of Good Hope. Clunies-Ross returned and set up a compound on South Island consisting of his family and some other settlers. Hare's severely mistreated slaves soon escaped to work under better conditions for Clunies-Ross. The workers were paid in a currency called the Cocos rupee, a currency John Clunies-Ross minted himself that could only be redeemed at the company store. The islands were annexed by the British Empire in 1857 and passed to Australia in 1955. (Photo by: Pictures From History/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)