8 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



bay ; a little to the right, Cape-MisCortunc, and 

 beyond that, the boundlefs Ocean, in which appear, 

 on a level with the water's edge, fome uninhabited 

 little ifles, among others Mire-Point, which re- 

 fembles a baftion in the midft of the waves. 



At the entrance of this bafon, from whence fo 

 many objeds are diftinguifhablc, the echos of the 

 mountain incelTantly repeat the noife of the winds 

 which agitate the neighbouring forefts, and the 

 roaring of the billows, which, break at a diftance, 

 upon the fhallows; but at the very foot of the cot- 

 tages, no noife is any longer to be heard, and no- 

 thing to be feen around, except great rocks, as fteep 

 as the wall of a houfe. Tufts of trees grow at their 

 bafes, in their clefts, and up to their very fum- 

 mits, on which the clouds fettle. The rains which 

 are attraâ:ed by their peaks, frequently paint the 

 colours of the rainbovv on their green and duflcy 

 fides, and conftantly fupply, at the bottom, the 

 fources of which the fmall river of the Lataniers is 

 formed. A profound filence reigns through this 

 enciofiire, where all is peace ; the air, the waters, 

 and the light. Scarcely does the echo there repeat 

 the murmuring found of the palmifts, which grow 

 on their elevated flalks, and whofe long arrow- 

 formed branches are fcen always balanced by the 

 winds. A mild light illuminates the cavity of this 

 i)afon, into which the rays of the Sun defcend only 



at 



