54 



VISIT OF THE ZEBRA. 



some parts with the rock of the cliff, and its 

 extremity, that presents at the mouth of the 

 cave, has a smooth surface, resembling the half- 

 risen moon in shape, whence its native name. It 

 offers, on the whole, an interesting example of a 

 basaltic column, which originally formed a por- 

 tion of the surrounding cliff ; but whose more 

 compact structure has retained its integrity, 

 while the rock around has separated in slaty 

 exfoliations. 



The British man-of-war brig Zebra, which 

 now lay at anchor in Papeete harbour, was 

 the only ship -of- war we met with during 

 the voyage. Her trim and well-disciplined 

 appearance recalled many agreeable thoughts 



