THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 277 



on the rippled and undulating wave of the Ocean, 

 added a charm to the singularity of the prospect, 

 and enlivened the loneliness of our situation. The 

 scene was unusually impressive. On one side, the 

 mountains of the interior, having their outline edged, 

 as it were, with silver from the rays of the moon, 

 rose in lofty magnificence, while the indistinct form, 

 rich and diversified verdure, of the shrubs and trees, 

 increased the effect of the scene. On the other hand 

 was the illimitable sea, rolling in solemn majesty 

 its sweUing waves over the rocks which defended 

 the spot on which we stood. The most profound 

 silence prevailed, and we might have fancied that 

 we were the only beings in existence ; for no sound 

 was heard, excepting the gentle rustling of the leaves 

 of the cocoa-nut tree, as the light breeze from the 

 mountain swept through them ; or the hollow roar 

 of the surf, and the rolling of the foamiug wave, as 

 it broke over the distant reef, and the splashing of 

 the paddle of our canoe, as it approached the shore. 

 It was impossible, at such a season, to behold this 

 scene, exhibiting impressively the grandeur of creation 

 and the insignificance of man, without experiencing 

 emotions of adoring wonder and elevated devotion, and 

 exclaiming with the Psalmist, ' When I consider thy 

 heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the 

 stars which thou hast ordained ; what is man, that 

 thou art mindful of him, or the son of man, that 

 thou visitest him V" * 



The same pleasing ^vl•iter has given us a vivid 

 picture of the emotions awakened by passing a night 



• Polynesian Researches, 2d ed. vol. ii. p 245. 



