The Mighty Deep 



seventy miles, and in parts fifty miles broad. 

 Barrier-reefs, reaching through many hundreds 

 of miles, are even more remarkable. 



Travellers write stirring descriptions of the 

 beauty of these erections. The vivid pen of 

 Miss Gordon-Gumming, for instance, has painted 

 many a picture of Pacific reefs, of thundering 

 breakers, and dazzling white surf. 



We are told by her of "the patches of coral, 

 sea-weed, and sometimes white sand, lying at 

 irregular depths beneath a shallow covering 

 of the most crystalline emerald-green water," 

 producing " every shade of aqua-marine, mauve, 

 sienna, and orange, all marvellously blended." 

 And, again, of the wonderful masses of living 

 coral which grow like garden-plants below the 

 clear water, and of branching shrubs of all 

 imaginable tints, such as pink, blue, mauve, and 

 primrose. 



To pluck and carry off these ocean-blossoms 

 would be a vain attempt, for the "gelatinous 

 slime " to which the colours belong " drips 

 away, as the living creatures melt and die, 

 when exposed to the upper air." 



From the pen of another eye-witness^ we have 

 a description of a visit at low-tide to the barrier- 



* The Hon. Ralph Abercromby. 

 172 



