THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 293 



many other trees of beauty and usefulness strike the 

 eye of a stranger. Seaward, there is the long line of 

 the reef; a low but impregnable barrier, with the 

 surging wave foaming over it ; and, beyond, the 

 boundless Pacific, unbroken by any object, save the 

 w r hite-sailed canoe in the distance, scarcely distin- 

 guishable from the crest of a wave, but perhaps 

 freighted with the humble native missionary, bear- 

 ing to some neighbouring island that gospel of 

 Christ which he has found to be "the power of 

 God unto [his] salvation." Beneath and around is 

 the placid and lake-like lagoon, the progress of th® 

 boat alone dimpling its smooth face. So transparent 

 is the water, that the varied bottom is distinctly 

 visible many fathoms down, showing the growth of 

 living coral branching in fantastic imitation of the 

 shrubs and trees on the shore, and representing to 

 the charmed imagination an extensive submarine 



o 



shrubbery of many hues. Even the irregular move- 

 ments of the spined urchins {Echini) are clearly seen 

 as they crawl upon the sands, and the multitudes of 

 playful little rock-fishes (Labri), of every rich and 

 glowing tint, gliding with easy and graceful motion 

 among the branches, rivet the spectator's attention. 



Mr. Ellis thus describes his feeling in a similar 

 situation, walking on the lonely sea- beach by moon- 

 light : " The evening was fair, the moon shone 

 brightly,- and her mild beams, silvering the foliage 

 of the shrubs that grew near the shore, and playing 

 on the rippled and undulating wave of the Ocean, 

 added a charm to the singularity of the prospect, 

 and enlivened the loneliness of oar situation. The 



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