350 THE OCEAN. 



the Chinese, in their annual visits to the Oriental 

 Isles, and, by consequence, that which forms the 

 chief lading of the returning junks, is the edible 

 birds'-nest ; the production of a species of Swallow 

 {Flirundo esculenta); of which, as it seems to be 

 an oceanic production, I shall give a short account. 

 For many ages the nests have been in use in China, 

 and it is a remarkable instance of the fictitious value 

 often attached by fashion to things of little moment 

 in themselves, but procured from a distance with 

 much expense, difficulty, and danger. From the 

 accounts of travellers, which differ much in detail, 

 we gather, that certain large caverns in the interior 

 of the island, as well as on the coast, are frequented 

 by immense numbers of these birds, of which there 

 seem to be at least two species, one being, accord- 

 ing to many observers, smaller than a wren; the 

 other, according to Sir. E. Home, who dissected 

 some brought home by Sir Stamford Raffles, u dou- 

 ble the size of our common swallow." M. Poivre, 

 who, in 1741, visited the Straits of Sunda, observed 

 these birds in a little island called the Little Tocque. 

 A party having landed to shoot green pigeons, this 

 gentleman, accompanied by a sailor, walked along 

 the beach in search of shells and jointed corals, 

 which were very abundant. After having walked 

 some distance, he was called by his companion, who 

 had discovered a deep cavern. M. Poivre, hastening 

 to the spot, found the entrance darkened by an im- 

 mense cloud of small birds, pouring out in swarms. 

 He entered, and with ease knocked down many of 

 the little birds, with which he was at that time un- 



