144 Natural IIistory Buli.p:tin. 



and <^ood nature proved inexhaustible. 1 doubt if any white 

 person could have endured staying in that galley for half an 

 hour during the hottest times. 



On several such days, seeing that the breeze was about to 

 fail us, we used wdiat remained in getting to an anchorage 

 inside the reefs. When this was done, collecting parties 

 could be sent out in the boats after corals and shallow-water 

 forms, and any serious loss of time prevented. At such times. 

 we found great relief from the heat by going overboard and 

 swimming in the crvstal clear water on the shad}' side of the 

 schooner. These swimming parties were greatly enjoyed by 

 all who participated in them, and a number both of young 

 men and women learned the delightful and invigorating art of 

 swimming. An extra spar was hung over the side, in addi- 

 tion to the boarding steps and several lines, and we had a 

 natatorium which could not be surpassed either in cleanliness 

 or convenience. When a novice desired a lesson, a rope was 

 attached to his or her belt, and the aspirant for natatory 

 accomplishment was persuaded to jump overboard in prefer- 

 ence to being thrown overboard. The end of the rope was- 

 held bv some one on board. x\fter a few such lessons, almost 

 every one who tried was able to float or swim without assist- 

 ance, although the line attachment was never omitted, in the 

 case of the young women at least, several of whom became 

 quite able to float or swim, much to their delight and protit. 

 It was a novel and interestinir si<iht to see the bulwarks lined 

 with a row of these young men and women, who, at a given 

 signal, jumped or dove into the cool, clear depths together. 

 This healthful exercise served to break up the oppressive mo- 

 notony of the calm weather, and doubtless had a good deal to 

 do with the continued good health of all on board. When the 

 calm caught us at sea, we tried our hands at iishing. The 

 sharks appeared to be quite numerous, and could be seen 

 from the deck, gliding around the vessel some distance below 

 the surface. On one occasion a very large -'hammer-head" 

 was seen from the cross-trees. It was, apparently, the largest 

 fish observed durinof the cruise, but it is difticult to estimate 



