BIRDS OF THE BAHAMA ISLANDS. 
31 
sprung up, and as our horses were somewhat rested, we remounted, 
and an hour later entered the village of Clarence Harbor, and fired 
a gun as a signal to notify the men on board the vessel of our 
arrival. In a few minutes the dim outline of the boat appeared, and 
half an hour later, seated in the cabin enjoying a good supper, the 
fatigue of the day was forgotten. Supper over, we went on deck, 
and stretching ourselves in the large easy-chairs, enjoyed our cigars 
while watching the waves, lit up by myriads of animalculse, seeming 
on fire as they dashed against the side of the vessel. 
While at Clarence Harbor, a negro brought me a curiously 
carved piece of lignumvitse-wood which he had found in a cave, far 
back in the hills, while exploring for guano. The wood was cut to 
represent a tortoise, having a human head, but with the back hol- 
lowed out instead of being oval, and was evidently carved from one 
piece of wood. It had been in his possession for over a year, and 
placing no value upon it, the head had been broken off and lost, and 
the body somewhat injured, he having allowed his children to use it 
as a plaything. In spite of the reward which I offered him, he was 
unable to find the missing parts, and so another valuable and inter- 
esting specimen was destroyed through ignorance. 
