282 THE OCEAN. 



the absence of scoria, lava, and other volcanic pro- 

 ducts, in these islands, has led him to the conclu- 

 sion that they have been elevated by some expan- 

 sive power, or volcanic agency, without eruption.'* 



In one of the Tonga Isles there is a very curious 

 submarine cavern, connected with an interesting 

 legend. Mr. Mariner, who describes it, informs us 

 that being in the vicinity one day, a chief proposed 

 to visit this cave. One after another of the young 

 men dived into the water without rising again, and 

 at length the narrator followed one of them, and, 

 guided by the light reflected from his heels, en- 

 tered a large opening in the rock, and presently 

 emerged in a cavern. The entrance is at least a 

 fathom beneath the surface of the sea at low-water, 

 in the side of a rock upwards of sixty feet in height; 

 and leads into a grotto about forty feet wide, and 

 of about the same height, branching off into two 

 chambers. As it is apparently closed on every side, 

 there is no light but the feeble ray transmitted 

 through the sea; yet this was found sufficient, after 

 the eye had been a few minutes accustomed to the 

 obscurity, to show objects with some little distinct- 

 ness. Mr. Mariner, however, desirous of better 

 light, dived out again, procured his pistol, and after 

 carefully wrapping it up, as well as a torch, re-en- 

 tered the cavern as speedily as possible. Both the 

 pistol and torch, on being unwrapped, were found 

 perfectly dry, and by flashing the powder of the 

 priming, the latter was lighted, and the beautiful 

 grotto illuminated. The roof was hung with sta- 

 * Williams's Missionary Enterprises, p. 28. 



