NARRATIVE OF THE CRUISE 



327 



South Sea fish, but here before our very eyes we found them scam- 

 pering about the blocks of lava, just as much at home on land as 

 they are in the water. 



The day of our departure was drawing near and we had prepara- 

 tions to make. Supplies for the galleys and laboratories had to 

 be stowed away and long-neglected letters answered. On Novem- 

 ber 26 we pushed off for Apia, arriving there on Thanksgiving 

 morning. 



The day was to be no holiday for us. Parkinson proceeded to 

 compare his instruments with those at the magnetic observatory ; 



The Palolo-worm Which Lives in Dead Coral in Samoa 

 In response to some mysterious stimulus these worms break in two to allow the lower 

 portion to swim to the surface for a grand "wedding-dance," this occurring only on two 

 days a year (once in October and once in November) — the Carnegie was in Pago Pago 

 harbor for the November swarm. (From Kramer, "Die Samoa Inseln.") 



Captain Ault made his official calls, and ordered gasoline and oil; 

 Paul arranged for further supplies of distilled water; Graham took 

 silk-nets ashore for repairs and the others were busy about the 

 ship at their various tasks. 



But on the 29th two excursions were arranged. One, a sunrise 

 visit to the tomb of Robert Louis Stevenson and his wife, at 

 Vaea, in which Soule, Forbush, Graham, and Paul took part. 

 The other, a trip to the eastern end of Upolu, in which Seaton 

 joined Graham and Paul in collecting specimens for museum use 

 at home. 



