284 THE CRUISE OF THE 'GURACJOA.' 



a rather loud .sound, like the escape of high-pressure steam. 

 It then closed up, and the lips of the shell were within an 

 inch of each other. I think it is able to close itself quite 

 up when it pleases ; it Avould, therefore, be an unpleasant 

 thing to tread upon, for it might catch hold of you, and 

 if it did it would be a hard matter to extricate your foot. 

 I found another tridacna about six inches across, and also 

 alive. When the tide rose Ave were obliged to return to 

 the ship. 



Florida is a beautiful island, one, I think, of the prettiest 

 we have seen. It has a volcanic red soil. Close to our 

 anchorage, on the slope of the hill-side near the shore, there 

 were three holes, the first of them round and apparently 

 very deep, in which large trees were now growing, pro- 

 bably three extinct craters. I think these islands of the 

 Pacific are much older formations than they are usually 

 supposed to be. There seemed to be on the hills of Florida 

 many decent-looking villages, Avith better houses apparently 

 than we have lately seen, Avith long lines of fencing, Avhich 

 appeared both high and strong. 



The Commodore, at daybreak, had dispatched several 

 officers ashore to make soundings and hydrographical ob- 

 servations. Wlieu evening came on, and there was no 

 appearance of them, he, as Ave all did, began to feel verj^ 

 uneasy. At nine o'clock, unable to endure longer suspense, 

 he sent off the life-boat, in charge of Lieutenant Meade, in 

 quest of the hydrographical party under the command of 

 Mr. Scudamore ; the Bishop at the same time setting off in 



