THE ARCHIPELAGO OF CHAUSEY. 63 



completed that portion of my inquiries which pre- 

 sented the greatest interest, and at the very moment 

 when I ought to have entered upon another series of 

 investigations, I felt in its full force the painful 

 sense of solitude. A feeling of home- sickness seized 

 upon me ; I did not long struggle against it, but 

 packing up my books, instruments and collections, I 

 at once engaged my passage on board the Delia, a 

 small vessel which was employed in transporting to 

 St. Malo the produce of the quarries of Chausey. 



It was one of those lovely days, which occasionally 

 visit us at the approach of the equinox, and which 

 seem to belong alike to the summer which is passing 

 away and the autumn which is already beginning. 

 The sun was shining in a deep blue sky, interspersed 

 with a few light clouds. The sea was beautiful, and 

 its long lines of waves were breaking into sparkling 

 foam, as they moved in the bright sunbeams before 

 a gentle breeze from the north-east. Notwithstanding 

 the heavy cargo which filled her hold, the Delia 

 made rapid way, and we had soon left the shore far 

 enough behind us to enable me to embrace in one 

 glance the whole of the archipelago, whose remotest 

 recesses had now become so familiar to me. Before 

 me lay Grande-He, with its ancient castle command- 

 ing Port Homard, and flanked on either side by the 

 Great and Small Epail, which advanced into the sea 

 like gigantic sword-blades. On my right, He -Longue 

 and the two Rornonts were half hidden in the clouds 

 of smoke which rose from the barilla fires. To the 

 left lay the chain of larger islands, La Genetaie, 

 with its high upheaved rocks, La Houssaie, and the 



