2G6 THF OCEAN. 



light but the feeble ray transinitted 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 distinctness. 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-entered the cavern as 

 speedily as j)ossible. Both the pistol and torch, on 

 being unwrapped, were found perfectly dry, and by 

 flashing the powder of the priming, the latter was 

 Ughted, and the beautiful grotto illuminated. The 

 roof was hung with stalactites in fantastic forms, 

 bearing some resemblance to the Gothic arches and 

 carved ornaments of some old church. After bavins 

 examined the curiosities of the place, the parties sat 

 down to drink cava, wliile an old chief communicated 

 some interesting particulars in the history of the 

 grotto. 



In former times there lived a governor of one of 

 the neighbouring islands, who exercised his authority 

 with the most grinding tyranny and injustice. A 

 conspiracy against his life was formed by a sub- 

 ordinate chief, which was discovered, and he himself 

 condemned to death with his family. One of his 

 daughters, however, a beautiful girl, was reserved for 

 a more hateful destiny, that of becoming the wife of 

 the cruel tyrant. It happened that another young 

 chief, who had long loved this maiden, had a little 

 while before accidentally discovered the submarine 

 cavern, when diving in pursuit of turtle. He had 

 kept his discovery a profound secret, reserving it as 

 a safe retreat for himself, in case he should be un- 



