Sea Gardens. 301 



the geology, physical features, and natural history of the 

 country. He showed me collections of cheap wood-cuts print- 

 ed in colors, which are sold at less than a farthing each, and 

 comprise an endless variety of sketches of Japanese scenery 

 and manners. Though rude, they are very characteristic, 

 and often exhibit touches of great humor. He also possesses 

 a large collection of colored sketches of the plants of Japan, 

 made by a Japanese lady, which are the most masterly things 

 I have ever seen. Every stem, twig, and leaf is produced by 

 single touches of the brush, the character and perspective of 

 very complicated plants being admirably given, and the ar- 

 ticulations of stem and leaves shown in a most scientific 

 manner. 



Having made arrangements to stay for three weeks at a 

 small hut on a newly-cleaned plantation in the interior of 

 the northern half of the island, I with some difficulty obtamed 

 a boat and men to take me across the water, for the Aniboy- 

 nese are dreadfully lazy. Passmg up the harboi', in apj^ear- 

 ance like a fine river, the clearness of the water aiSbrded me 

 one of the most astonishing and beautiful sights I have ever 

 beheld. The bottom was absolutely hidden by a continuous 

 series of corals, sponges, actiniae, and other marine produc- 

 tions, of magnificent dimensions, varied forms, and brilliant 

 colors. The depth varied from about twenty to fifty feet, and 

 the bottom was very uneven, rocks and chasms and little hills 

 and valleys, ofiering a variety of stations for the groAvth of 

 these animal forests. In and out among them moved numbers 

 of blue and red and yellow fishes, spotted and banded and 

 striped in the most striking manner, while great orange or 

 rosy transparent Medusae floated along near the surface. It 

 was a sight to gaze at for hours, and no description can do 

 justice to its surpassing beauty and interest. For once, the 

 reality exceeded the most glowing accounts I had ever read 

 of the wonders of a coral sea. There is perhaps no spot in 

 the world richer in marine productions, corals, shells, and 

 fishes than the harbor of Amboyna. 



From the north side of the harbor a good broad path 

 passes through swamp clearing and forest, over hill and val- 

 ley, to the farther side of the island ; the coralline rock con- 

 stantly protruding through the deep red earth which fills all 



