THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 267 
waters by which it is environed. From end to end 
of the curved isles stretches, in a straight line, form- 
ing, as it were, the cord of the bow, a narrow beach, 
of the same snowy whiteness, almost level with the 
sea at the lowest tide, enclosing a semi-circular space 
of water between it and the island, called the lagoon. 
Over this line of beach, which occupies the leeward 
side, the curve being to windward, the sea is break- 
ing with sublime majesty; the long unbroken swell 
of the Ocean, hitherto unbridled through a course 
of thousands of miles, is met by this rampart, when 
the huge billows, rearing themselves upwards many 
yards above its level, and bending their foaming 
crests, “form a graceful liquid arch, glittering in the 
rays of a tropical sun, as if studded with brilliants. 
But, before the eyes of the spectator can follow the 
splendid aqueous gallery which they appear to have 
reared, with loud and hollow roar they fall, in mag- 
nificent desolation, and spread the gigantic fabric 
in froth and spray upon the horizontal and gently 
broken surface.” Contrasting strongly with the 
tumult and confusion of the Hoary billows without, 
the water within the lagoon exhibits the serene 
placidity of a mill-pond. Extending downwards to 
a depth, varying from a few feet to fifty fathoms, the 
waters possess the lively green hue common to 
soundings on a white or yellow ground; while the 
surface, unruffled by a wave, reflects with accurate 
distinctness the mast of the canoe that sleeps upon 
its bosom, and the tufts of the cocoa-nut plumes that 
rise from the beach above it. Such is a Coral 
Island, and if its appearance is one of singular loveli- 
