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COLLECTOR'S RAMBLES 



pull it up on the beach. The water was up to our 

 necks, and every wave took us off our feet. Father, 

 Mr. Clark, and Shelley pulled hard at the oars, and 

 gradually the boat was worked into shallow water. 

 My feet were so badly cut on the sharp corals and 

 shells, and pierced by the spines of sea-urchins, that 

 for more than two weeks I could not step without 

 great pain. 



When we came to shore, the boat was unloaded 

 and a camp made, where we spread out our birds and 

 blankets to dry in the sun. As my clothes were wet 

 through, I was obliged to take them off and hang them 

 upon the bushes ; while they were drying, I retired 

 into the shade and attended to my wounded feet. 

 There was a deep gash in my heel to be sewed up, 

 after which I dug out the sea-urchins' spines with my 

 penknife. 



Father and Shelley had gone over to the village, 

 where they procured some groceries ; together with a 

 few cooking utensils, and some canvas for a tent. We 

 learned shortly that a man employed by the Mel- 

 bourne Argus, as correspondent was going to New 

 Guinea, as soon as he could charter a boat ; and, as he 

 asked us to join him, we concluded, rather than wait 

 longer, to accept. Our tent was soon finished and 

 put up. Father and Shelley gathered so many shells 

 and corals about here, that we made up a good-sized 

 box to send home. 



