46 THE OCTOPUS. 



northernmost point of Australia from New Guinea, a small party, 

 including the captain, took boat and were rowed ashore, a distance 

 of a good mile. Our passage in the boat was over a splendid 

 field of coral, the water not being above a yard deep, and as clear 

 as crystal. Landing on the shore of Blackwood's Bay, our party 

 separated for the purpose of exploration ; the captain pointing out 

 to us the necessity of our being punctual as to time, not wander- 

 ing too far, and observing the position of our boat for our return. 

 The shore was an extensive flat, hard and clean to walk on, with 

 much sea-weed growing on it. Having proceeded a considerable 

 distance, and lost sight of my companions, great was my surprise 

 to see an object start up suddenly, close to my feet, moving very 

 rapidly, and evidently wishing to avoid me, and to get to the sea. 

 After chasing it a short time, I was satisfied that the creature was 

 an octopus, which I was desirous of capturing alive, and without 

 injury. Its eyes, which were round, large, and wide open, de- 

 scriptive of the greatest terror, struck me forcibly. Its speedy flight 

 and wonderful powers of locomotion, I cannot account for : it 

 appeared to me surprising that a creature with such a flexible 

 structure as its tentacles, could outrun me. Our chase lasted so 

 long that both pursuer and pursued were frequently obliged to 

 halt from sheer exhaustion. At length, finding that I could not 

 capture the animal, I flung my stick at it with force, and knocked 

 it over, killing it with one blow, and, to my sorrow, ruining it as a 

 specimen. On picking up the octopus, it was quite collapsed. 

 The tentacles were about two feet long only. I am not surprised 

 to have found this creature left by the receding tide ; as it had 

 plenty of seaweed, with little pools of v/ater, to protect and shelter 

 it, and abundance of the sea-slug {Holothuria cdiilis), which no 

 doubt it feeds on — fine specimens of which I met with, that would 

 have suited the dainty palate of an alderman ! I trust that credit 

 may be given me for the veracity of this account. I have no 

 object in deception. I have here stated what occurred to me ; 

 and being able to refer to my journal, my memory is freshened. 



