68 HUNTING THE SEA OTTER. 



extremity, and gives some protection in an east wind if it 

 veer a point or so to the south, but the same amount of 

 variation to the north made it an absolute necessity for 

 us to up anchor and run to the other side for shelter. 

 This, of course, added much to our feeling of insecurity, 

 and the prospect of spending a long day in the boats 

 and of making sail at all hours of the night was not 

 encouraging. 



The physical aspect of the whole island is remarkably 

 bold, the dark plutonic rock of gorge and precipice 

 betokening at once its volcanic origin. A range of lofty 

 mountains broken up into eight great groups connected by 

 low flat spaces or broken hills, generally covered with 

 dense primeval growths of stunted timber, extends from 

 north to south of the coast in steep and rugged precipices, 

 against which the waves break with resistless fury in 

 wreaths of foam. Remains of former eruptions are very 

 numerous, easily traced in stupendous precipices and vast 

 masses of rock piled upon each other in endless confusion, 

 while conspicuous cone-shaped mountains, some solid, 

 others mere shells, differ somewhat in external con- 

 figuration, but all bear evidence of the primitive forces of 

 Nature. 



The scene from the deck was very beautiful, though the 

 appearance presented by the country is bleak, sterile, and 

 desolate beyond description. The rays of the rising sun 

 were just beginning to tinge the summits of the mountains ; 

 -each peak and ridge grew rosy red, to pale slowly as the 

 orb of day rose higher, leaving by degrees the virgin snow 

 in unsullied whiteness ; huge masses of rock hung poised 

 along the steep declivities, which, here and there rent 

 asunder, formed deep and rugged ravines, showing darkly 

 against the lighter tint of the background. While 

 numerous rivulets, now swollen and violent, leapt with 

 impetuous freedom over dark precipices to fall hundreds of 

 feet on to the boulders beneath. 



From the skirts of the mountains to the sea, a distance 



