252 
SOMETHING TO ADMIIIE. 
bad weather generally hidden from view by the clouds 
which hang around it. It serves them also as a very re- 
liable barometer. When several hundred of their boats 
were towing our crippled frigate from Si-mo-da to Iley-da, 
the day was beautifully clear, and we were getting along 
(piite smoothly, when suddenly a white cloud hid it from 
our view and threw^ the whole line of boats into the wildest 
state of confusion. They cast oft' their lines and pulled 
for the shore in such haste that it was with difticulty that 
we could keep enough with us in w'hich to save ourselves 
and crew. When the hurricane which the white cloud 
indicated broke upon us, ^ve were safe in under the land; 
but the old Diana foundered in a few minutes. Their 
knowledge of the weather was all that saved us.” 
We were now approaching the curved and narrow 
entrance of the harbour; and, as is usual when entering a 
strange port, all hands mustered on deck with glasses 
and wide-awake eyes, to see what was to be seen, and to 
imagine a great many things which were not to be seen. 
And the changing panorama that presented itself on every 
liand was one well worthy of admiration. The day w^as as 
calm as a perfectly-motionless atmosphere could make it, 
and just warm enough to make it pleasant. Ahead ot 
us there was opening a green and picturesque valley, wdth 
the locale of its liidden villages indicated by groves of 
closely-planted shade-trees, and with the glassy surface 
of a winding stream breaking out here and there and 
reflecting the slanting rays of the western sun. On our 
left, the southern range of mountains that formea one 
wall of the valley stretched their broken length down 
into the very sea, lifting their uneven ridge several hun- 
