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like a curtain, and it was getting dark when we
reached the beach. The captain had to look after the
embarcation of the party, as the cutter AA'as a bulky
boat not Avell suited for surf work and had to lie ont
a little Avav. We all AA'ent off in the cutter instead of
AA'aiting for the galley, and had simply to watch for a
fayourahle moment and make a rush for it up to the
middle. We caught only one light breaker, and were
soon all floundering in the boat, amid a storm of
laughter.
Early next morning, AA'hen all our preparations
AA'ere completed and onr AA'orking-parties ready to
land, Captain Nares announced th a t the governor
had changed his mind, and did not Avish to have the
island examined. The captain Avent ashore to expostulate,
and as Ave hoped th at the change might have
arisen from a misunderstanding Avhich might he removed,
boats went off Avith several exploring parties,
the boats to lie off u n til one or other of tAvo signals
should he made from the ship—either the fore-royal
shaken out, in which case all Avas to proceed as
had been preA'ionsly arranged ; or the main-royal
shaken out, Avhen all the boats were to retu rn to
the ship. Time Avore on. My rôle for tbe day Avas
to take tbe steam-pinnace and dredge in moderate
Avater off the coast. As the governor could not well
object to that, I Avas not to be interfered with in any
case, so I only waited to get a derrick fitted in lien of
one Avhich had been damaged. About half-past ten
the main-royal was shaken ont, and the general recall
for boats hoisted.
The pinnace had just started, and w'e ran hack
to hear the news. The governor Avas courteous, but
obdurate. W q might land ; he would give us horses
and guides, every possible accommodation ; Ave might
even shoot pigeons, hut we must do no scientific
work. Captain Nares asked, if we saAV a butterfly,
might Ave not eatch it, but he said he Avould prefer
that we should not. The governor of a convict establishment
is in a very delicate position, and hears a
heavy responsibility, not unaccompanied with serious
risk, and it is, of course, ditficult to judge his conduct
in such a case; but it is not easy to see why his
determination should have been exerted against
our throwing light upon the natural history of the
island only. Captain Nares and a party visited St.
Michael’s Mount and ‘ Eat ’ and ‘ Platform ’ Islands.
Mr. Moseley collected a great many plants, and Mr.
Buchanan made some observations on the geological
structure of the islands, Avhich I quote from his
notes.
“ The highest island, St. Michael’s Alount, forms
one of the prominent peaks Avhich are characteristic
of the group. It is very steep and formed entirely of
phonolite, which occurs columnar at the base and
massive towards the top ; on the western side where
we landed the columns are inclined to the horizon at
an angle of ahont 30°. Their transverse section looks
nearly square, the corners being, hoAvever, considerably
rounded off. The columns are for the most
part slender, and their mass is of a dirty green
colour. In this the glassy felspar crystals are arranged
with great regularity, AA'ith their broadest
faces in a plane perpendicular to the length of the
column. The steep sides of the Mount are covered
with loose blocks of massive phonolite, fallen down