X.] SUNRISE ON THE EAST COAST. 5 



had been unable to devote more time to this ultimate of Ultima 

 Thules, and wondering for how many years the remembrance of our 

 visit would remain an epoch in the Samasanan calendar. 



Wlien that most prosaic, but useful publication, the " China Sea 

 Directory" ventures upon superlatives, there is generally some 

 tolerably good reason for it. " The coast from Chock-e-day to the 

 northward," it informs us, " is the boldest and most precipitous that 

 can be conceived, the mountains rising 7000 feet almost perpen- 

 dicularly from the water's edge." Attracted by this, which may be 

 safely termed a very respectable height for a sea-cliff, we decided 

 •to explore the coast and see if a tolerable anchorage and landing 

 could be obtained, undeterred by the further information that " the 

 aborigines were nearly naked, and used threatening gestures, 

 brandishing their long knives and spears " when Commander 

 Brooker attempted to communicate with them. We set our course 

 northward at reduced speed during the night, and at dawn the 

 mountains, shrouded in an impenetrable gloom of heavy clouds, 

 loomed dimly through the mist on our port hand. "We altered 

 course, and crept in slowly towards them. Slowly the sun rose, 

 and flushed the highest peak into a crimson glow. Beneath, the 

 dark pall of clouds still hung, revealing here and there in its rents 

 a region of still deeper gloom behind, and pouring its masses of 

 sombre vapour across the face of the mighty cliffs. The sun, as 

 yet invisible to us, had flecked the dull gray of the sky above us 

 with scattered lines of pink, and as our little ship heaved lazily to 

 the long easterly swell we gazed spell-bound across an inky sea at 

 a sight which, even to the most phlegmatic among us, seemed 

 beyond expression magnificent. Higher and higher the misty 

 curtain lifted, now hiding, now disclosing peak and pinnacle and 

 gorge. Broader and broader grew the line of rosy light, thinner 

 and brighter the veil of cloud. Day had conquered night, and, at 

 last, distinct and clear, save where, half way up its face, a thin long 

 line of snow-white cloud hung motionless, the highest sea precipice 

 in the known world lay unveiled before our eyes. It was superb. 



