THE ISLE OF SUMMER 43 



This is an attractive harbor or cove, six miles from 

 the west end — a good harbor in southerly weather. 

 Here a town is growing, and the old isthmus is covered 

 with groves of eucalyptus and other semitropic trees. 

 Within this harbor are several small harbors — such 

 as "Fisherman's" — good for small craft, cut in by 

 the waves through a massive deposit of infusorial 

 earth, which, when cut into, gleams white as snow. 

 On the south point of the bay is a singular cave, just at 

 the edge of the water, into which I have passed in a 

 boat. Once inside, a narrow passage is seen, to the 

 right, through which the boat may be pushed, coming 

 out some distance to the north. 



Off the isthmus is a fiat rock, one hundred and sev- 

 enty yards in extent; and beyond, three-quarters of a 

 mile, rises a white pinnacle, sLxty-sLx feet high, known 

 as "Ship Rock" — shot up in some remote era as a 

 clot of lava — that is a marvellous imitation of a 

 ship, marking one of the best iishing-grounds on the 

 island coast. This is the only port of the island which 

 can be said to abound in shoals and rocks, and the 

 chart should be consulted; but the entire area can be 

 traversed by large launches without difficulty. 



Santa Catalina has been opened up. A remarkable 

 mountain coach-road extends from Avalon to How- 

 land's, five miles beyond the isthmus, and trails and 

 paths lead in every direction, so that it is accessible 

 from nearly every point. Yet so steep are the canons, 

 so innumerable are they, that visitors are wise to 

 take guides. The stage road from Avalon to the 

 summit is in itself most interesting. It constantly 

 winds about, affording beautiful views of the ocean, 

 mountains, and the great snow-capped peaks of the 



