12 VOYAGES OF A NATURALIST 



column appears to be a smooth mass of rock, 

 and looks as if a slight push would send it head- 

 long into the sea. Another marked feature, which 

 is visible at a considerable distance, is an opening 

 through the sea-cliff at the south-western extremity 

 of the island. This boring has been made by the 

 sea, and is known as the " hole in the waU." 



Just opposite our anchorage, and close to 

 the settlement, there was also a magnificent 

 " blowhole " in the cliff, through which the air 

 was driven, by the rise and faU of the sea, with a 

 loud roar every few seconds. 



The island slopes gradually upwards from the 

 sea, and its general appearance from a little distance 

 is green and fertile. When we landed we found 

 that the cause of this apparent fertility was a 

 thick growth of fig trees, which covered most of 

 the island. Maize is, however, grown at certain 

 seasons of the year, and in a letter received by 

 Doctor Macdonald some months after our visit, 

 one of the Englishmen living on the island describes 

 it as looking very green and fresh, owing to the 

 abundance of the maize crop. 



As soon as a boat had been lowered we started 

 for the shore. The surf was breaking with such 

 fury on both the charted landing places that we 

 were forced to abandon the idea of getting in at 

 these spots ; but we found that, by backing the 

 boat to a jutting mass of rock, we could, with a 

 little difficulty, scramble ashore. 



