30 MEMOIR. 



some 40 or 50 feet sheer down, a natural arch is seen spanning 

 the cave, and on this arch a rock pigeon's nest in the proper 

 season. Graham had determined to get the eggs, which he 

 knew were now in the nest. Fixing the anchor securely in 

 the ground above, he let the rope hang down into the cave. 

 The rope, he found, would just reach the arch ; so, letting 

 himself over, he proceeded to descend. But his hands being 

 wet, he found he could not hold on properly, and, to his 

 horror, felt himself slipping faster and faster, till with a rush 

 he passed the ledge, dropped off the rope, and landed on his 

 back on the sand below, some 60 or 70 feet from the top. 

 Of course, having the rope to hold on to for so much of the 

 distance broke his fall, and he escaped with a considerable 

 shaking and a sore head. After recovering somewhat from 

 the effects of the fall, he managed to scramble again to the 

 upper ground through the opening further inland, which, unlike 

 the other, was not quite sheer down. The anchor was still 

 in position, so a happy thought struck him. He filled his hands 

 with sand, and, despite his previous experience, again ventured 

 down. This time, thanks to the sand giving him a better grip, 

 he succeeded, and brought the eggs down to the boat in triumph. 

 This is but a sample of his almost daily adventures. I may 

 mention that a few days after this exploit a red-legged crow's 

 nest of eggs was taken from a neighbouring cave under some- 

 what similar circumstances, bar the fall." ] 



These few incidents will perhaps be sufficient to give some 

 slight idea of Henry Graham's ordinary daily life while resid- 



1 The incident above referred to is illustrated under Letter VIII. ED. 



