I11I
see many round massive heads of brain-coral, Mean-
cIrma, and other beautiful branching forms, Astrea,
hundreds of massive and tubular sponges, and broad
sea-fans, Gorgonias, as we glided over these miniature
forests and wide gardens beneath the sea.
A clear sunset gave a good promise of an unusually
pleasant night, and the stars twinkled brightly
as the evening came on, but the dull vibrations of the
tifa and the continual crashings of the gongs, with
now and then a wild, prolonged shout from one of
the oarsmen, and a similar chorus from the others,
kept me awake till late in the night. Finally, just
as a troubled sleep was creeping over me, there was
a sudden shout from every native, and our round-bottomed
prau gave a frightful lurch, first to starboard
and then to larboard. All was confusion and uproar,
and my first waking thought was that we must have
run into the back of some sea-monster, and that, perhaps,
the sea-serpent was no myth after all, for when
only such savages are seen on the land for men, it is
not unreasonable that hideous, antediluvian monsters
must be twisting their long, snaky forms beneath in
the deep, dark ocean. After awhile the danger was
explained: we had struck on a coral reef, though we
were at least half a mile from the shore. This indicates
the width, at this place, of the platform of coral
which encircles the whole island. The heavy swell
which had scarcely affected the boat while afloat now
made her roll almost over the moment her keel
touched the rock. Such rough, projecting coral reefs
are very dangerous to the best boats, for in a few
moments they will frequently grind a hole through