TO RADACK. 37 



fathoms into the air, and long blocks of coral, 

 probably rent from the reef during violent storms, 

 and thrown on shore, lay scattered all around ; the 

 shore is covered with a quantity of shells of various 

 kinds, and fragments of coral. After looking in 

 vain for a bird worth adding to our collections, I 

 returned to our resting place, where we all assem- 

 bled cheerfully round the tea-kettle, and heartily 

 rejoiced at being on so remarkable an island, which 

 we had ourselves discovered. Chamisso and 

 Eschscholz returned with a quantity of rare corals 

 and marine animals; their conversation upon them 

 was instructive, and we listened with attention, till 

 the rats and lizards disturbed us by stealing our 

 biscuit. Chamisso and Eschscholz affirmed that 

 these rats and lizards were not different from those 

 of Europe j the question was started, whence did 

 they come ? And this problem can only be solved, 

 — by the shipwreck of a vessel on these islands. The 

 same question arose, when our common flies here 

 pestered us incessantly. We saw many crabs, 

 (Muschelkrebse, cancer Parasiticus,) which always 

 carry their dwelling about with them. Thus the 

 evening came on, amidst various interesting re- 

 searches and observations ; and our repast, which 

 consisted of English patent meat, and which we 

 found excellent, filled us with gratitude towards 

 the inventor. 



I had a fire kept up during the night ; and two 

 sentinels, with their guns loaded, were stationed on 



D 3 



