THE ARCHIPELAGO OF CHAUSEY. 



to reap a harvest which has needed no season of 

 planting or of sowing. 



1 was the bearer of a letter of introduction to M. 

 Beautemps, the nephew of the celebrated engineer 

 and hydrographer, to whom we are indebted for the 

 magnificent hydrographical Atlas of the Coasts of 

 France. I took the earliest occasion of presenting 

 this letter, and, thanks to M. Beautemps, I made the 

 acquaintance of M. Harasse, the proprietor of the 

 islands of Chausey, and of M. Dubreuil, who was 

 then in command of the coast-guard vessel, the 

 Moustique. The former of these gentlemen gave me 

 permission to establish myself on his property, and 

 even accorded me the use of a room in one of the 

 buildings set apart for the managers and for the pre- 

 servation of the farm stores, whilst the latter under- 

 took to convey me to my new residence. 



At six o'clock the next morning I embarked on 

 board the Moustique, which at once heaved its anchor 

 and left the harbour of Granville. The sea was 

 running very high, and the wind being against us, 

 we were obliged to tack. To confess the truth, this 

 voyage proved a severe trial to me, for after having 

 earned the congratulations of the commander for my 

 good sailorship, I was compelled to retreat to the 

 cabin, where for three hours I remained a victim to 

 all the horrors of sea-sickness. But at length these 

 miseries were terminated by the Moustique gliding 

 into the smoother water of the Chausey harbour, 

 where the fresh north-west breeze soon restored my 

 wonted courage. 



In the course of a few minutes I had landed and 



