1836. | TURTLE-CHASE. 159 
and tints of many of the zoophytes were admirable. It is ex- 
cusable to grow enthusiastic over the infinite numbers of organic 
beings with which the sea of the tropics, so prodigal of life, 
teems; yet I must confess I think those naturalists who have 
described, in well-known words, the submarine grottoes decked 
with a thousand beauties, have indulged in rather exuberant 
language. 
April 6th.—I accompanied Captain Fitz Roy to an island at 
the head of the lagoon: the channel was exceedingly intricate, 
winding through fields of delicately branched corals. We saw 
several turtle, and two boats were then employed in catching 
them. The water was so clear and shallow, that although at 
first a turtle quickly dives out of sight, yet in a canoe or boat 
under sail, the pursuers after no very long chase come up to it. 
A man standing ready in the bow, at this moment dashes through 
the water upon the turtle’s back ; then clinging with both hands 
by the shell of its neck, he is carried away till the animal be- 
comes exhausted and is secured. It was quite an interesting 
chase to see the two boats thus doubling about, and the men 
dashing head foremost into the water trying to seize their prey. 
Captain Moresby informs me that in the Chagos archipelago in 
this same ocean, the natives, by a horrible process, take the shell 
from the back of the living turtle. ‘It is covered with burning 
charcoal, which causes the outer shell to curl upwards; it is 
then forced off with a knife, and before it becomes cold flattened 
between boards. After this barbarous process the animal is 
suffered to regain its native element, where, after a certain time, 
a new shell is formed ; it is, however, too thin to be of ee ser- 
vice, and the animal always appears languishing and sickly.” 
‘When we arrived at the head of the lagoon, we crossed a 
narrow islet, and found a great surf breaking on the windward 
coast. I can hardly explain the reason, but there is to my mind 
much grandeur in the view of the outer shores of these lagoon- 
islands. There is a simplicity in the barrier-like beach, the 
margin of green bushes and tall cocoa-nuts, the solid flat of dead 
coral-rock, strewed here and there with great’ loose fragments, 
and the line of furious breakers, all rounding away towards 
either hand. The ocean throwing its waters over the broad reef 
appears an invincible, all-powerful enemy ; yet we see it resisted 
