90 



Naturai> History Buli>e:tin, 



manship, for he succeeded in backing- the schooner out of the 

 channel as neatly as though she had steam propulsion. With 

 consummate skill his orders were given and executed, every 

 pull at the halliards and sheets having the exact effect upon 

 which he had calculated. A glance at the sea-wall opposite 

 Morro Castle showed that it was black with people, who real- 

 ized that a wreck was imminent. Slowly and steadily the 

 •• Emilv " glided stern first, back past the grim port-holes of 

 •• El Morro." until she reached blue water and put about. 



It being impracticable to get into harbor that night, it was 

 decided to spend one more day on the pentacrinus grounds, 

 and then we tried the channel with better success, the 

 '• Emily " being forced to make almost the entire circuit of 

 the harbor on account of a big steamer blocking the direct 

 way to our anchorage. A stiff breeze sent the schooner cut- 

 tin o- through the water like a yacht, as she dodged in and out 

 among the various craft, and at last dropped anchor, as 

 before, among the Spanish cruisers. 



Sunday, Ma\' 28th. was passed in resting and in visiting the 

 citv and Botanical Gardens. This is the day on which one 

 sees the people of a Spanish cit}' to the best advantage. In 

 the evening. especialh% the military concert in Parka Centrale 

 sse:iied to attract a multitude of citizens of the better classes. 



The next day was spent in preparation to leave for our next 

 station. The American Consul General had requested us, in 

 case we were successful in securing Pciifdcrinii^. to present 

 one to each of three or four prominent officials, in recog- 

 nition of courtesies extended to us. This we were perfectly 

 willing to do, and five superb specmiens of Pentacrinus were 

 selected and placed in separate jars bought for the purpose. 

 Three of these were taken to the office of the Consul, in 

 order that through him they might be presented to the Gov- 

 ernor General and Secretary General of Cuba. One was 

 taken for the Consul himself, who had incidentally mentioned 

 that a similar favor was extended by the '• Albatross " when 

 she dredged pentacrini off Morro Castle. The gentleman 

 who delivered these specimens returned with the report that 



