406 



THE INHABITANT OF THE NAUTILUS 

 POMPILIUS. 



{See Page 399, Vol. i.) 



It was on the 24th of August, 1829, (calm and 

 fine weather, thermometer at noon 79",) in 

 the evening, when the ship Sophia was lying at 

 anchor in Marakini Bay, on the south-west side 

 of the island of Erromanga, one of the New 

 Hebrides Group, Southern Pacific Ocean, that 

 something was seen floating on the surface of 

 the water, at some distance from the ship ; to 

 many it appeared like a small dead tortoise-shell 

 cat, which would have been such an unusual 

 object to be seen in this part of the world, that 

 the boat which was alongside the ship at the 

 time, was sent for the purpose of ascertaining 

 the nature of the floating object. 



On approaching near, it was observed to be 

 the shell-fish, commonly known bv the name of 



