THE AMERICAN WHALEMAN. 117 



vines become animate, and in flight and twittering song 

 sought companionship. Long stalactites of vivid green, 

 around which flowers grew, hung from the roofs, the points 

 emitting crystal streams of water, which were lost on carpets 

 of moss and ferns. The lofty hills were clothed with broad- 

 foliaged forest-trees so dense that the misty light of day was 

 almost excluded, their tops covered with a surf of palms. 

 Palraettoes, dracsenas, ferns, lycopodiacese, and orchids were 

 in charming harmonies and contrasts. Marvelous forms and 

 colors crowded every spot, indeed bewildering the mind of 

 the ignorant sailor, who only knew enough to feast on the 

 beauty through which he tore his way. Leaping cascades of 

 the purest water sprung from the cliffs, and fell hundreds of 

 feet below, penciling their course in silver light, and wreath- 

 ing the near growths in snowy foam. 



But even in this fairy-land rude business intruded itself. 

 We had to settle two quarrels which had occurred since we 

 left the Galapagos, and which, according to the rules of the 

 captain, were postponed until we reached shore. A ring 

 being formed and fair play assured, a few minutes of down- 

 right earnest effort buried all ugly grudges and heart-burn- 

 ings in the beautiful sand, which the combatants had kissed 

 in turn. Then we turned to more general enjoyments ; all 

 hands running races, wrestling, and skylarking on the shelv- 

 ing beach. Some waded off in the shallow water to gather 

 the sea-stars, sea-eggs, shells, corals, and the marine plants 

 which make the bottom of the bay almost a counterpart, in 

 brilliancy of coloring, of the garden-land. Of this wondrous 

 scene the gift of the artist and poet may relieve the sailor, 

 in the following description : 



" Come down, come down from the tall ship's side ; 

 What a marvelous sight is here] 

 Look ! pmple rocks and crimsoned trees 

 Down in the deep so clear. 



