its motions. As they skim along the surface they turn on
their sides, so as fully to display their beautiful fins, takin«
a flight of about a hundred yards, rising and falling in a
most graceful manner. At a little distance they exactly
resemble swallows, and no one who sees them can doubt
that they really do fly, not merely descend in an oblique
direction from the height they gain by their first spring.
In the evening an aquatic bird, a species of booby (Sula
fiber.) rested on our hen-coop, and was caught by the
neck by one of my boys.
Dec. 31 si. At daybreak the Ke Islands (pronounced
kay) were in sight, where we are to stay a few days.
About noon we rounded the northern point, and endeavoured
to coast along to the anchorage • but being now on
the leeward side of the island, the wind came in violent
irregular gusts, and then leaving us altogether, we were
carried back by a strong current. Just then two boats-
l°ad of natives appeared, and our owner having agreed
with them to tow us into harbour, they tried to do so,
assisted by our own boat, but could make no way. We
were therefore obliged to anchor in a very dangerous place
on a rocky bottom, and we were engaged till nearly dark
getting hawsers secured to some rocks under water. The
coast of Kd along which we had passed was very picturesque.
Light coloured limestone rocks rose abruptly
from the water to the height of several hundred feet, everywhere
broken into jutting peaks and pinnacles, weatherworn
into sharp points and honeycombed surfaces, and
clothed throughout with a most varied and luxuriant
vegetation. The cliffs above the sea offered to our view
screw-pines and arborescent Liliacese of strange forms,
mingled with shrubs and creepers; while the higher
slopes supported a dense growth of forest trees. Here and
there little bays and inlets presented beaches of dazzling
whiteness. The water was transparent as crystal, and tinged
the rock-strewn slope which plunged steeply into its
unfathomable depths with colours varying from emerald
to lapis-lazuli. The sea was calm as a lake, and the
glorious sun of the tropics threw a flood of golden light
over all. The scene was to me inexpressibly delightful.
I was in a new world, and could dream of the wonderful
productions hid in those rocky forests, and in those azure
abysses. But few European feet had ever trodden the
shores I gazed upon; its plants, and animals, and men
were alike almost unknown, and I could not help speculating
on what my wanderings there for a few days might
bring to light.