VOYAGE TO THE 
incumbent weight into the sea; those which are less injured in this 
way present no alternate ridges or indication of the different levels 
which the sea might have occupied at different periods, but a smooth 
surface, as if the island, which there is every probability has been 
raised by volcanic agency, had been forced up by one great subterra- 
neous convulsion. The dead coral, of which the higher part of the 
island consists, is nearly circumscribed by ledges of living coral, which 
project beyond each other at different depths ; on the northern side of 
the island the first of these had an easy slope from the beach to a 
distance of about fifty yards, when it terminated abruptly about three 
fathoms under water. The next ledge had a greater descent, and ex- 
tended to two hundred yards from the beach, with twenty-five fathoms 
water over it, and there ended as abruptly as the former, a short distance 
beyond which no bottom could be gained with 200 fathoms of line. 
Numerous echini live upon these ledges, and a variety of richly coloured 
fish play over their surface, while some cray-fish inhabit tbe deeper 
sinuosities. The sea rolls in successive breakers over these ledges of 
coral, and renders landing upon them extremely difficult. It may, 
however, be effected by anchoring the boat, and veering her close into 
the surf, and then, watching the opportunity, by jumping upon tbe 
ledge, and hastening to the shore before the succeeding roller ap- 
proaches. In doing this great caution must be observed, as the reef 
is full of holes and caverns, and the rugged way is strewed with sea- 
eggs, which inflict very painful wounds ; and if a person fall into one 
of these hollows, his life will be greatly endangered by the points of 
coral catching his clothes and detaining him under water. The beach, 
which appears at a distance to be composed of a beautiful white sand, is 
wholly made up of small broken portions of the different species and 
varieties of coral, intermixed with shells of testaceous and crustaceous 
animals. 
Insignificant as this island is in height, compared with others, it 
is extremely difficult to gain the summit, in consequence of the thickly 
interlacing shrubs which grow upon it, and form so dense a covering, 
that it is impossible to see the cavities in the rock beneath. They are 
at the sam^ time too fragile to afford any support, and the traveller 
