498 



NATURE 



[J UN I 



< \|)Iosive8. Lieut, Hurst was a volunteer for the time 

 (i'tprmination as observed by the cusps, so he has now 

 been replaced by Lieut. Clover. 



On the evening of April 7 Commander Mellor, Father 

 Cortie, and I went ashore after dinner to Neiafu to inquire 

 about Prof. Moor, one of the .Australian party, who had 

 an accident yesterday. It seems that after a hard day's 

 work he went to bathe, and while undressing f.i! from the 



Fig. 3.— Preparing concrete for the pillars. Sand, cement, and dead coral (the last-mentioned 

 quarried from the top ot the hill) were used. 



bathing platform into very shallow water on to coral. 

 He not only cut the back of his head badly, but his back, 

 and he was in bed suffering from concussion. He is now 

 (.April 12) progressing, but he is suffering with his sight, 

 and may have to return to .Australia by the ne.\t steamer. 



.After another hard day's work on Saturday, when !:joo(l 

 progress was made in all directions. 

 Sunday was considered a day of rest. 

 Mr. McClean and Mr. Brooks preferred 

 to stay ashore, .Mr. Raymond and .Mr. 

 Winklemann went to Neiafu photo- 

 graphing, while Mr. Anderson and 1 

 went off for a sailing picnic with some 

 of the officers. We visited the famous 

 "Swallows'" Cave; hundreds of 

 swallows flew out as we rowed in. 

 The cave is of considerable dimen- 

 sions, and its upper portion is a mass 

 of stalactites. One projects vertically 

 upwards from a ledge on the side, and 

 when hit with a boat-hook it gives out 

 a beautiful low tone like a large bell. 

 The water in this cave is very deep and 

 clear, and when it was thought no 

 sharks were about some of the party 

 indulged in a bathe. Lunch was par- 

 taken on a small sandy beach a mile 

 or so away in the presence of thousands 

 of flies, and there I made a collection 

 of several shells and seeds. On our 

 return in the evening we again entered 

 " Swallows' " Cave, as the sun was 

 well round and shining nearly in it. 

 The colours of the water were" superb, 

 but the heat and the innumerable 

 mosquitoes and flies made our stav 

 intended. 



On Monday (.April 10) at 2 a.m. verv luaw rain fell, 

 but as there was little wind and mv bunk was placed 

 well m the middle of the quarter-deck, I did not wake. 

 Every night many of us sleep on the quarter-deck or after- 

 bridge, and we dine on the former also. The ward-room 

 gets very hot after the dav's sunning, and the ship is so 

 NO. 2 1 71, VOL. 86] 



kedgcd that the wind strikes the starboard side; the poi! 

 side is therefore the sunny and leeward side. T! 

 temperature in my cabin, with scuttle open and ■ 

 fan working, varies during the day time from abu.. 

 to 90° F, 



Lin fortunately, on .Monday Mr. Brooks, while chopping; 

 a piece of wood with an a.xe, cut his left-hand thum' 

 badly. StafT-Surgeon .Milln soon stitched it up for him 

 when he got on board. 



In the evening, during dinner, cknuN 

 appeared in the east, indicative* <<t 

 vertical currents, very tall cumuli ■ 

 with flat bottoms. The wind 

 gradually to increase from a 

 iephyr to a cooling breeze, and I 

 fairly strong about 9.30 p.m., ar.''. • 

 rain came down in torrents. Whii' 

 thinking of those living ashore and th- 

 instruments, we had to rush to remov. 

 our bunks from the deck, for th- 

 awning was of no apparent use. 



This shower gave one some idea of 



how it can rain here, although up to 



now we have experienced very little 



of it. I made up my mind, therefore, 



to prepare for all eventualities. Thus 



Tuesday morning was chiefly spent in 



digging trenches. Fortunately, the 



dark-room had previously been dealt 



with in this manner, and could not be 



washed out. That afternoon was the 



climax. Down the rain can^e again in 



torrents. Mr. McClean and I went 



round the camp to see that all was in 



order, and at the same time obtained a 



good idea of what to do in the futur-. 



.Although these rain squalls may not be 



numerous, they are tremendously heavy 



when they do coine, and one thickness of canvas barely 



keeps the rain out. Fortunately, the ship can supply a 



great number of small waterproof coverings, and I expect 



we shall indent for most of them. Even to-day (.April 12) 



rain has been frequent, and prevented much opening up of 



in-itriimpnt';, 'I '^^ -':'• was completely o-— ■<• '•" •'-'> early 



shorter than we 



Kk;. 4. — The 6-in. prismatic camera in course ot erection. 



morning, and all day blue sky has been rarely seen. L .: .- 

 in the afternoon we had another deluge ; but now we are 

 well prepared, and do not mind so much. The humidity 

 here is very high, and everything exposed to the air quickly 

 rusts, even keys in one's pockets. 



Nevertheless, we are all a very cheerful party, and the 

 assistance from the ship is magnificent. This evening the 

 Tojiia is expected to arrive, bringing more of •^'^ 



