48 Voyaye of the Novara. 



tions of forest and grass-slopes with the white coral beach, 

 crowned with cocoa-palms. Gradually the island of Tringkut 

 came into view, singularly level, and abounding in cocoa- 

 palms and edible sea-slugs (Trepang), lying directly facing 

 the entrance of the harbour-like channel, between Kamorta 

 and Nangkauri. Our course, on which we were being pro- 

 pelled on a beautiful evening by a gentle soft wind wliich 

 wafted us slowly but surely forwards, was indeed entrancingly 

 delicious. Directly ahead lay the low strand of Tringkut, 

 shimmering whitely under the dark green canopy of foliage, 

 while the long swell, breaking on the coral reefs like glancing 

 walls of foam, sunk away in the distance into the smooth 

 mirror-like sea, which rose and fell almost impercej)tibly, as 

 though peacefully breathing. On the left lay Nangkauri, with 

 its forests. On both sides of Kamorta and Nangkauri, huts 

 and villages were visible sprinkled along the shore, from 

 which numerous natives put off in their canoes to the frigate, 

 but presently lay on their oars at a respectful distance, and 

 followed us like a sort of squadron of observation. On the 

 right was visible in mid-channel between Tringkut and 

 Kamorta the solitary rocky island of Tillangschong ; the 

 shores of all these islands, and indeed the whole horizon, 

 being lit up with a gorgeous Fata Morgana. The extreme 

 southernmost cliffs of Tillangschong seemed to be susjiended 

 entirely in the air. The corners, at wliich jutted out the 

 coast lines of Tringkut and Kamorta, seen along the horizon 

 of the ocean resembled wedge-shaped incisions into the do- 



