FBOGHESS OF TEE "HUMPBACK" SEASON. 261 



deep, though overhead the cHffs nearly came together in 

 places. Within, the scene was very beautiful, but not 

 more so than many similar ones we had previously 

 witnessed. Still, as the place was new to us, our languor 

 was temporarily dispelled, and we paddled along, taking 

 in every feature of the shores with keen eyes that let 

 nothing escape. After we had gone on in this placid 

 manner for maybe an hour, we suddenly came to a 

 stupendous cliif — that is, for those parts — rising almost 

 sheer from the water for about a thousand feet. Of 

 itself it would not have arrested our attention, but at its 

 base was a semicircular opening, like the mouth of a 

 small tunnel. This looked alluring, so I headed the 

 |p)oat for it, passing through a deep channel between two 

 reefs which led straight to the opening. There was 

 ample room for us to enter, as we had lowered the mast ; 

 but just as we were passing through, a heave of the un- 

 noticed swell lifted us unpleasantly near the crown of 

 this natural arch. Beneath us, at a great depth, the 

 bottom could be dimly discerned, the water being of the 

 richest blue conceivable, which the sun, striking down 

 through, resolved into some most marvellous colour- 

 schemes in the path of its rays, A delicious sense of 

 coolness, after the fierce heat outside, saluted us as we 

 entered a vast hall, whose roof rose to a minimum height 

 of forty feet, but in places could not be seen at all. A 

 sort of diffused light, weak, but sufficient to reveal the 

 general contour of the place, existed, let in, I supposed, 

 through some unseen crevices in the roof or walls. At 

 first, of course, to our eyes fresh from the fierce glare 

 outside, the place seemed wrapped in impenetrable gloom, 

 and we dared not stir lest we should run into some 

 hidden danger. Before many minutes, however, the 

 gloom lightened as our pupils enlarged, so that, although 



