COOKING BREAKFAST. 205 



us that nothing conld be lost by waiting, spoke of our eating, 

 and on this hint told that he would take us to a part of the 

 island where ' our breakfast would be abundant, although un- 

 cooked.' Off we went, some of the sailors carrying baskets, 

 others large tin pans and wooden vessels such as they use for 

 eating their meals in. Entering a thicket of about an acre in 

 extent, we found on every bush several nests of the ibis, each 

 containing three large and beautiful eggs, and all hands fell to 

 gathering. The birds gave way to us, and ere long we had a 

 heap of eggs, that promised delicious food. Nor did we stand 

 long in expectation ; for, kindling a fire, we soon prepared, in 

 one way or other, enough to satisfy the cravings of our hungry 

 maws. Breakfast ended, the pilot, looking at the gorgeous 

 sunrise, said, ' Gentlemen, prepare yourselves for fun ; the tide 

 is a-coming.' Over these mud flats a foot or two of water is 

 quite sufficient to drive all the birds ashore, even the tallest 

 heron or flamingo ; and the tide seems to flow at once over the 

 whole expanse. Each of us, provided with a gun, posted himself 

 behind a bush, and no sooner had the water forced the winged 

 creatures to approach the shore, than the work of destruction 

 commenced. When it at length ceased, the collected mass of 

 birds of different kinds looked not unlike a small haycock. 

 Who could not with a little industry have helped himself to 

 a few of their skins ? Why, reader, surely no one as fond of 

 these things as 1 am. Every one assisted in this, and even the 

 sailors themselves tried their hand at the work. Our pilot, 

 good man, told us he was no hand at such occupations, and 

 would go after something else. So taking ' Long Tom ' and his 

 fishing-tackle, he marched off quietly along the shores. About 

 an hour afterwards we saw him returning, when he looked 

 quite exhausted ; and on our inquiring the cause, said, ' There 

 is a dew -fish yonder, and a few balacondas, but I am not able 

 to bring them, or even to haul them here ; please send the 

 sailors after them.' The fishes were accordingly brought, and 

 as I had never seen a ' dew-fish,' I examined it closely, and 

 took an outline of its form, which some days hence you may 

 perhaps see. It exceeded a hundred pounds in weight, and 

 afforded excellent eating. The balaconda is also a good fish, 

 but at times a dangerous one, for, according to the pilot, on 



