352 THE OCEAN. 
small, and their flight so quick, that they escaped 
the shots fired at them. The same nests are said 
also to be found in deep caverns at the foot of the 
highest mountains in the middle of Java, and ata 
distance from the sea. * * * The nests are placed 
in horizontal rows at different depths, from fifty 
to five hundred feet. Their value is chiefly deter- 
mined by the uniform fineness and delicacy of their 
texture; those that are white and transparent being 
most esteemed, and fetching often in China their 
weight in silver. These nests are a considerable 
object of traffic among the Javanese; and many are 
employed in it from their infancy. The birds, hav- 
ing spent near two months in preparing their: nests, 
lay each two eggs, which are hatched in about fif- 
teen days. When the young birds become fledged, 
it is thought time to seize upon their nests, which 
is done regularly thrice a year, and is effected by 
means of ladders of bamboo and reeds, by which 
the people descend into the cavern: but when it 
is very deep, rope ladders are preferred. This ope- 
ration is attended with much danger, and several 
break their necks in the attempt.”* 
Some of the caves on the coast of Java are only 
to be reached by a perpendicular descent of many 
hundred feet, on these frail ladders of cane, while 
the sea rages with fury far beneath the feet. When 
attained, the cavern must be explored by torchlight, 
the adventurous fowler securing a precarious footing 
over the damp and slippery surface of the irregular 
recesses, where a false step would plunge him down 
* Embassy to China, i, 287, 
