The Cocos (Keeling) Islands are a remote Australian territory located in the Indian Ocean, roughly midway between Australia and Sri Lanka. Comprising two atolls and 27 coral islands, only two of which are inhabited, this picturesque archipelago is home to a small population, primarily Cocos Malays. The islands were discovered by British sea captain William Keeling in 1609, but they remained uninhabited until the early 19th century when Alexander Hare and, soon after, John Clunies-Ross established settlements there. The Clunies-Ross family ruled the territory as a private fiefdom for over a century, maintaining a unique coconut plantation economy based on imported Malay labor. In 1857, the British annexed the islands, and in 1955, sovereignty was transferred to Australia. Today, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands are renowned for their turquoise lagoons, thriving marine life, and unique blend of Malay and Western cultures, reflecting their eclectic and at times tumultuous colonial history.