60 CRUISE OF THE BARRERA 



myriad perforations in the coral heads would sting 

 him to desperation with invisible nettles. And, 

 at last, how far could the big lazy fishes be trusted, 

 should a drop of blood scent the water. Despite 

 all such warning reflections, what a longing 

 possesses one to descend into this garden of the 

 sea, to yield to the hypnosis of the rhythmic 

 movements of its algae, to creep into its mysterious 

 caves and hobnob with octopi, the big pop-eyed 

 groupers, and the rainbow-tinted fish that dwell 

 within them! 



Indeed it is usually the case that the most 

 seductive places, those blessed spots that make 

 the strongest appeal to the poetic imagination, are 

 quite unfit for human comfort or safety. How 

 often one sees some spot in the tropic jungle, 

 smothered in cool green vegetation and seemingly 

 dedicated by a kind Providence for a siesta, yet 

 forbidden to all, save the newcomer to the jungle. 



It was our object as far as possible to secure 

 good specimens of every living thing, animal 

 or vegetable, that inhabited the reef — obviously 

 an ambitious program. We worked strenuously 

 nearly all day. The Patron frequently gave us 

 remarkable exhibitions of what might be called the 



