80 TlMEHRl. 
stretching thence to the south and west, as far as the 
eye can penetrate the dim veil of the morning, are the 
islands, rocks and reefs of which we have spoken. Now 
the day begins to clear, the gloomy sea grows brighter 
and the dark chain of islands more defined. The chill 
blast of the morning rushes in from over the great 
waste of the ocean ; the banks of leaden clouds 
that have been hanging in the east break and rise ; 
higher and higher they lift ; a flood of rosy light 
streams up from the horizon, which, as it catches 
the trailing skirts of the clouds, is reflected in an 
amber tinting flood upon the blue gray islands and silver 
sea. Then, in a great web of woven rays that reaches 
nearly to the zenith, the sun proudly lifts his unclouded 
face over the horizon's verge ; and suddenly clouds and 
islands and sea are flooded with the glory of light 
in all its splendour and power. With many a hoarse, 
wild scream the seabirds rise from their nests 
on the rocky shore, and break in rudely upon the 
solemn silence of the scene. Nevertheless, they are so 
completely a part of it, that although they have perhaps 
rudely broken a sweet, soft reverie, you do not resent 
their untimely intrusion. 
St. Croix, which is the richest of the Virgin Islands in 
natural resources, and second only to St. Thomas in 
commercial importance, lies some fifty miles to the south 
of the other islands. It is for the most part flat, and 
well cultivated. In the centre there is a chain of low 
hills, rising into a single peak of some height, and falling 
into the sea on the northern shores in more or less bold 
headlands. The hills of this island do not appear to 
have any connection with the great chain; and it is 
