274 
SOUTH SEA 
dingy light with stems of various shape, with glistening 
aqueous points, —while stretched beneath us a scene pre- 
sented itself which words cannot describe ; the sea- water 
which entered this cavern was of a beautiful crystal 
clearness, as pellucid as the air, the rays of a powerful 
sun penetrated its depths, and illumined every object 
beneath its glassy surface. The bottom of the cave was 
formed of many masses of broken rock, all lying in 
chaotic confusion, forming points and clumps, arches 
and apertures of all sizes and forms, these were tufted, 
lined, and embroidered with oceanic ornaments. 
On a mass of red coral grew a feathery tuft of marine 
vegetable, shooting delicately tall through the crystal 
space, while others of various forms enchained some 
rocky points, and close beside the ocean-fan expanded. 
Entwined around a rocky column was reared the tender 
sea-green stem of fucus, and at its feet a coarser kind 
matted the uneven floor ; another ocean plant extended 
its broad leaves across a rocky arch, while others, com- 
posed of hair-like fibres, drooped from a shelving rock, 
and fringed the fairy scene ; and some knotted and 
woven, in various forms arrayed, finished this Neptune’s 
bower, growing from the oosy sand or from the stony 
clumps. Around, corallines of various colours — -red, 
white, blue, and yellow, constrasted their various shapes 
and hues, and offered with tempting hand the rarest 
beauties from great nature’s store. Roaming through 
these wild scenes, hundreds of fish appeared, of curious 
forms and brilliant hues. The teira, the aruanus, and 
vespertilio, shewed their beauteous shapes, while two 
