352 THE OCEAN. 



small, and their flight so quick, that they escaped 

 the shots fired at them. The same nests are said 

 also to be found in deep caverns at the foot of the 

 highest mountains in the middle of Java, and at a 

 distance from the sea. * * * The nests are placed 

 in horizontal rows at different depths, from fifty 

 to five hundred feet. Their value is chiefly deter- 

 mined by the uniform fineness and delicacy of their 

 texture ; those that are white and transparent being 

 most esteemed, and fetching often in China their 

 weight in silver. These nests are a considerable 

 object of traffic among the Javanese ; and many are 

 employed in it from their infancy. The birds, hav- 

 ing spent near two months in preparing their nests, 

 lay each two eggs, which are hatched in about fif- 

 teen days. When the young birds become fledged, 

 it is thought time to seize upon their nests, which 

 is done regularly thrice a year, and is effected by 

 means of ladders of bamboo and reeds, by which 

 the people descend into the cavern: but when it 

 is very deep, rope ladders are preferred. This ope- 

 ration is attended with much danger, and several 

 break their necks in the attempt."* 



Some of the caves on the coast of Java are only 

 to be reached by a perpendicular descent of many 

 hundred feet, on these frail ladders of cane, while 

 the sea rages with fury far beneath the feet. When 

 attained, the cavern must be explored by torchlight, 

 the adventurous fowler securing a precarious footing 

 over the damp and slippery surface of the irregular 

 recesses, where a false step would plunge him down 



* Embassy to China, i. 287. 



