CHAP, xxvm.] IN A NATiVE PRAU. 173 



without first clearing sometliiug else out of the way. The 

 large sails cannot be shifted round to go on the other tack 

 without first hauling down the jibs, and the booms of the 

 fore and aft sails have to be lowered and completely 

 detached to perform the same operation. Then there are 

 always a lot of ropes foul of each other, and all the sails 

 can never be set (though they are so few) without a good 

 part of their surface having the wind kept out of them by 

 others. Yet praus are much liked even by those who 

 have had European vessels, because of their cheapness 

 both in first cost and in keeping up ; almost all repairs 

 can be done by the crew, and very few European stores 

 are required. 



Dec. 28th. — This day we saw the Bauda group, the 

 volcano first appearing, — a perfect cone, having very 

 much the outline of the Egyptian pyramids, and looking 

 almost as regular. In the evening the smoke rested over 

 its summit like a small stationary cloud. This was my 

 first view of an active volcano, but pictures and pano- 

 ramas have so impressed such things on one's mind, that 

 when we at length behold them they seem nothing 

 extraordinary. 



Dec. 30th. — Passed the island of Teor, and a group • 

 near it, which are very incorrectly marked on the charts. 

 Flying-fish were numerous to-day. It is a smaller species 

 than that of the Atlantic, and more active and elegant in 



