^^o Voyage of the Novara. 



to be a work of much time and trouble, ere we succeeded, 

 after many hours of anxious care, in weathering the reef. 



The island of Guam, with its lofty green mountain-ridges, 

 numberless valleys, and thickly-wooded glades, had a cheer- 

 ful and friendly aspect, but seems but little cultivated. At 

 Umata, where we perceived a few houses, the Spanish flag 

 was waving from a small fort adjoining the settlement, which 

 had been hoisted on the approacli of the frigate. 



On 30th August, in 149° 53' E., we reached the eastern 

 limit of the S.W. monsoon, and — although not more than four 

 days' sail from the object of our next visit, the island of 

 Puynipet, had we met with favourable winds to waft us a 

 little further — it was 15th September ere we came in sight of 

 that lovely island, for, stormy and boisterous as the beginning 

 of this section of our cruise had proved, not less annoying 

 were the fickle calms, which kept us lying for weeks motion- 

 less, our sails idly flapping with the roll of the ship. It is a 

 wretched dej)ressing state of inactivity and discomfort, of 

 which only those can form an idea who have been caught in 

 a calm on the open ocean, on board of a sailing ship, — 



Wenn Welle ruht und jedes Luft gefliister ; 



Wenn Meer und Himmel schweigend sich umsehlingen, 

 Und fromm, fast wie zwei betende Geschwester." 



* Which may be freely translated as follows: 



" When ocean smooths his wrinkled face, 

 And sea and sky in pray'rful silence bend, 



As when, in mutual fond embrace. 

 Two loving^sisters' vows on high ascend ! " 

 The original is by Nicolas Lenau. 



