revised

Front matter

ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA. By the same Author. Svo, cloth, gilt edges, 10s. bd. Trees, Plants, and Flowers, their Beauties, Uses, and Influences. With. Coloured Groups of Flowers, from Drawings by James Andrews. Second Thousand. Cloth elegant, fully illustrated, 3s. bd. each. Anecdotes of the Habits and Instincts of Animals. Anecdotes of the Habits and Instincts of Birds, Reptiles, and Fishes. The African Wanderers ; or, Carlos and Antonio. Familiar Natural History. With 42 Illustrations by Harrison Weir. Also, in Two Volumes, entitled, "British Animals and Birds," "Foreign Animals and Birds." zs. each, plain ; 2s. 6d. coloured. NEW AND CHEAPER EDITIONS. Cloth elegant, fully illustrated, is. 6d. each. Playing at Settlers; or, The Faggot House, Twelve Stories of the Sayings and Doings of Animals.

Griffith and Farran, Corner of St. Paul's Churchyard, London. E. P. Dutton and Co., New York. ■33?}<fS}ptOA^ The Wreck. Page 42, ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA: THE WANDERINGS OF CAPTAIN SPENCER IN THE BUSH AND THE WILDS. CONTAINING ACCURATE DESCRIPTIONS OF THE HABITS OF THE NATIVES AND THE NATURAL PRODUCTIONS AND FEATURES OF THE COUNTRY. BY MRS. R. LEE, AUTHOR OF "THE AFRICAN WANDERERS," "ANECDOTES OF ANIMALS," ETC. WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY J. S. PROUT. sixth: thousand, revised. GRIFFITH AND FARRAN, SUCCESSORS TO NEWBERY AND HARRIS, WEST CORNER OF ST. PAUL'S CHURCHYARD, LONDON1. NEW YORK : E. P. DUTTON AND CO. {The rights of translation aud of reproduction arc rcscrz>ed.)

Preface

TO THE FIRST EDITION. 3?|jg*3i|HE favourable reception given to the "African raWS Wanderers" has prompted an Australian *^^l wanderer to recite his adventures ; and as the natural productions of the newer world are even more extraordinary than those longer discovered, it is the object of the present work rather to dwell upon them than on the fast-increasing riches of the settlements. To describe the latter, would be to make a book of statistics, so rapidly varying, that new data would be required every few months, and each colony would demand a volume. The author is desirous to express her gratitude for the assistance which she has received from private sources, and the admirable travels which have been written on the same subject. The names of Stokes, Gray, Sturt, Eyre, and several others, give authority to her assertions ; and for the verification of the de tails of Natural History, she has received the valuable vi

PREFACE.

TO THE FIRST EDITION. aid of Mr. Brown, himself an Australian traveller, Professor Owen, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Gould's works, as supplied by Mr. George Gray, and Mr. Adam White. The employment of technical or native names, a practice by no means desirable to the general reader, has been unavoidable, for they are the only terms known, and will continue to be so till the race of the Anglo- Saxon has overrun the whole of this favoured part of creation, and given more familiar appellations. Some idea of the beauty of the principal Australian plants may be conceived by visiting the Royal Gardens at Kew, where they bloom during the spring, in rich luxuriance. Those who have watched the use which parrots sometimes make of their speech, will not wonder at the aptitude of Charlie. The family from which he comes is cleverer than those of all other talking birds, and the author has witnessed its extreme facility and intelligence.

PREFACE.

TO THE SECOND EDITION. KjjmjMjHK author of this work states, with grateful ffgpSq pleasure, that a second edition of it is now B^tpII demanded by the public ; and that wishes have been expressed for some account of the produc tions of the Adelaide mines, and the discoveries of gold. The former has been easily added to her pages; but as her hero, Captain Spencer, travelled in Australia before "the diggings" commenced, it would have been an anachronism to have represented him as an eye-witness of the newly-found riches of this great country. She has endeavoured to over come the difficulty by annexing, at the end, as long a description of the gold-finding as the limits of the narrative will allow.

PREFACE.

TO THE SIXTH THOUSAND Ka^3|!l RE-ISSUE of this work having again been WSk Vl called for, it has been felt necessary to give ESEsS the text a very careful revision in the light of our extended knowledge of the vast and still less than half-explored continent of which it treats. This has been done with a light and sparing hand, so as to leave the original form of the work unmodified, because it undoubtedly presents a vivid and upon the whole an accurate picture of the Australian Continent as it was from thirty to forty years ago. CONTENTS.

Chapter I. Page

Captain Spencer recommended to leave India on account of his health — Hires a Malay schooner — Embarks with his horse and dog — Cruises on the outskirts of the Indian Archipelago — Converts a Triton shell into a tea-kettle, and a Clamp shell into a cup — A bird caught, which Captain Spencer names Charlie, and teaches to speak — Meets with the inhabitants of the Indian Seas — The Organ-fish — The Cuttle fish — The Diodon — Sea-snakes — Captain Spencer, not gaining strength, determines to go to Australia — Touches at Timor to take in supplies — Description of Coepang — Excursion ashore — A hunt — Timoree traffic — Departure from Timor .... I

Chapter II

Arrival on the northern coast of Australia — Various sea animals — Albatross — Tropic and Frigate birds — Touch at an island ; see natives — Go back to the continent — Enter a river — Catch a crocodile — The country on fire — See a Dugong — Return from the river — The Malays catch Trepang — Captain Spencer goes ashore — Finds a curious lizard — All go to an island to cure Trepang — See natives — Examine their rafts— Oysters found — Playfulness of a CONTENTS. X PAGE whale at sea — Flies — Natives bring a young man for them to set his arm — Captain Spencer performs the operation — Description of natives — Charlie and Tiger (the horse) frighten them — Natives dance — The schooner goes to another island — Captain Spencer finds an Eagle's nest, and various birds — Goes ashore — Eagle shot — Captain Spencer stays all night — Violent hurricane and storm — Schooner lost — Malays crashed by falling of cliff — Cap tain Spencer enters a cave with Charlie, Tiger, and the clog Gipsy 17

Chapter III

Captain Spencer determines to start for Swan River — Secures objects from the wreck— Running fishes — Attack from natives — Starts for Swan River — A log of wood converted into a shovel — A Hawk's-bill Turtle — Natives touch the baggage — Frightened away — Natives on shore taste pickled oysters — Put on Captain Spencer's trousers — Insects — Birds — Impression of a cloven foot with a spur — Flight of Parrakeets — Scrub — Captain Spencer makes a grass hat — Albatross — Haze and mirage — Berries — Snakes — Porpoises — Sea-shells — Meteor — Gannets . 43

Chapter IV

Captain Spencer ascends a ravine — Flying Foxes — Green Ants — Hawks, Pelicans, Parrakeets, and Cranes — Mullet — Porpoises— Pandanus — Nutmegs — Pigeons, etc. — Mosquitoes — Sand-flies — Hears natives — Dangerous attack — Captain Spencer kills a man — He is wounded by a spear — Beautiful plain and lake — Water-lilies, etc. — Residence on the top of a hillock — Native graves — Sees Kangaroos — Tiger loses a shoe — Oats — Kangaroos — Skin prepared — Mocassins made — Frilled Lizard — Gipsy nearly killed by a Python — Kites and other birds — Cranes Bitterns — Owls, etc. — Sow-thistle — Falcon — Shrike Cuckoo — Captain Spencer rides to native huts — Spear- CONTENTS. XI PAGE heads — Circles of stones — Bower-bird — Gourd — Cray fish — Captain Spencer rides over the hills — Caves like temples — Paintings — Vampire Bats — Carved head — Kan garoo — Gouty tree — Vitex — Crabs — Reed — Beetles — Fire-flies — Storm — Provisions collected for journey — The grass hat — A fresh start 65

Chapter V

Snake — Huts — Ovens — Basalt — Luxuriant grass — Gorge — Another gouty-stemmed tree — Captain Spencer desires to go to the interior — Scrub — Fishes — Gum-trees — Large fish — Birds — Flying Opossums — Insects — Fusanus — Casuarina — Dragon-fly — Sun to the north — Tiger's hoofs worn — Tiger's socks ■ — ■ Mesembryanthemum — Jerboas — Bustard — Native grave — Melaleuca — Lark — Natives and dogs' — Dogs rush on Gipsy — Captain Spencer saves the dog — Natives equipped for war — Captain Spencer separated from his arms — Dances to conciliate natives — Reaches his fire-arms — Frightens the natives — Tiger comes up, and they are still more frightened — Natives run off — Tombs — Opossums — Magnetic hills — River — Black Swans — Zamia — Captain Spencer poisoned by nuts — Conduct of his companions — Recovers — Yams — Moths — Peppermint — Grass-trees — Natives and dogs come upon Captain Spencer when cleaning arms — He frightens them away — Uninhabited villages — Yamgrounds — Howls of dogs — Splendid Pelargonium — Tiger attacked by a venomous snake — In saving the horse Captain Spencer is bitten — Almost dies — Recovers — Natives blow at him — Hen-Turkey — Native hut for watching prey — Birds — Directs his way south — Water scarce — Tiger drinks all from one can — Proteæ . . . -93

Chapter VI

Bed of a river — Native women — Captain Spencer finds water by digging — Diamond birds — Charlie frightens CONTENTS. XII PAGE birds away — Captain Spencer takes yams from women — Gives a horse-shoe in exchange — Conduct of the natives with the horse-shoe — Kangaroo — Holes of dirty water — Gipsy falls into one of them — Comes out covered with mud — Birds driven away by Charlie — Snake under saddle — A cry of distress — Finds the native whose arm had been broken lamed by a thorn in the foot — Captain Spencer saves him — Kinchela, name of native — Speaks Malay — Tells his history — Conversation between the Englishman and Australian — Captain Spencer goes to a well — Kinchela cooks — Discourse about Boyl-yas — Kin chela afraid of Tiger — Opinion of Captain Spencer among natives — Kinchela ignorant of way to Perth — Promises to take Captain Spencer to white men — Asks so earnestly to go with him that no refusal can be given — Grubs in Grass tree-"-Frogs — Charlie interferes with Kinchela's lesson in English — Scarcity of clothes ...... 116

Chapter VII

Kinchela still afraid of Tiger — Zamia-trees — Kinchela's first lesson in honesty — Bed of a small lake — Improved cuisine — Australians cannot boil — Fire-stick — Wild fowl — Birds — Kangaroo caught in Kinchela's fashion — Kinchela greedy — Reflections of Captain Spencer — Gums — Manna — Floss silk — Bee — Kinchela's memory of words — Cold rain — Kinchela catches Opossums — Kinchela makes a cloak — Burnt grass — Catch animals by burning scrub — Kinchela mends spear — Kinchela talks of bad black men — Magellanic clouds — Higher hills — .Yallabies — Talperos — Emu — Emu oil — Cross the mountains — Flies — Iguana — Kinchela's fear of a telescope — Beautiful scenery — Flowers — Lake — Ipomea — Everlastings — Nest of Leipoa — Banksias — Finches — Stork — Dragon-fly — Beetle — Fly — Grubs — Captain Spencer carries Gipsy everywhere on his knapsack — Native dogs — Wombat — Snake — Kingia — Grevillia — Inga — Eugenia, etc. — Birds and insects — Buteo CONTENTS.

XIII 163 PAGE — Birds— Scenery— Pieces of crystal and agate — Flowers — Mackintosh given to Kinchela — Fungus — Natives frightened away by gun — Python— Arrive at the ocean . 135

Chapter VIII

Captain Spencer makes a signal to a vessel — Boat comes ashore — Captain of the vessel comes in the boat — Offers assistance — Captain Spencer and his companions go on board the French whaling ship, the Mane — Life on board the Marie — Native feast off a stranded whale — Natives pay a visit to the Marie — Kinchela spoiled — Charlie learns French — Captain Spencer leaves the Marie — Scrub — Tiger very happy — Cranberry — Kangaroo — Kinchela has a fit of gluttony — Cliffs — Return to the sea-shore — Fishes — Musical Teredo — Salsolæ — Eryngium — Fruit — Plants, etc. — Reptiles — Birds — Crabs— Kinchela ill-humoured .........

Chapter IX

Spinifex — Bark of Gum-tree — Excrescence on tree — Well — Rhagodia — Water scarce — Water from Gum-trees — Hot wind — Dew — Salt Lake — Salsola — Mirage — Gum-tree roots — Emigrating birds — Cold wind and frost — Hakea — Curious stones — Absence of animal and vegetable life — Sand, quartz, iron — Scorching sun — No water, no food — Distress of Captain Spencer — Dog and horse suffer much — Tiger appears to die — Sorrow of Captain Spencer — Kinchela lies down to die — Captain Spencer gives himself up for lost, and becomes insensible — A shower in the night somewhat revives him — A Pigeon shows the way to some water — Captain Spencer rouses himself and reaches the place, drinks, and takes some to his companions — All go to the well — Kinchela and Gipsy eat Kangaroo skin and fall asleep — While sitting with his face between his hands Captain Spencer's hat is taken off — Sees Tiger with it in his CONTENTS. XIV PAGE mouth— Joy— Rest three days — Mountains — Country im proves — Copious rain — Old man . . . • . I04

Chapter X

Plenty of food — Yellow bean — Rough ground — Emus — Fishing — Natives — Painted man — Birds — Man and his wife — Rivers — Kinchela recognises the country — Finds a dead kangaroo — Kinchela not allowed to take it — Building rat — Cold — Encampment of natives — Kinchela's friends — Captain Spencer well received by them for his sake — Captain Spencer consents to stay the winter with them — The natives build him a house — Supply him with provisions — Two men, Warrup and Ugat, superior to the rest — Opinion of Tiger — Description of natives — A new tribe arrives — Their reception — Captain Spencer taken for the ghost of a relation — Corobbery — Dance of hill tribe — Warrup and Ugat talk of native customs to their guest — New sorts of food — Native manufactures . . . 205

Chapter XI

Jliver overflows — Different modes of fishing — Cooking — Frogs — Cray-fish — Tortoises — Birds — Wind — Hatchet missing, and restored — Description of sorcerers — Sorcerers come to cure a boy — Restrictions concerning food — Native laws and customs — Women — Quarrel and combat — Boomerang — Large Kangaroo hunt — Tribe goes away and steals a young woman — Preparations for war — Warsong — Departure in pursuit of the enemy — Captain Spencer follows — Encounter of the tribes — Captain Spencer fires, frightens, and pursues the guilty tribe — The young woman found bleeding to death — Taken home to be eaten — Captain Spencer goes away . , . 223

Chapter XII

Keturn to the river — Beautiful shrub — Bauhinia — Marjoram — Ornithorynchus — Natives become more frequent CONTENTS. XV PAGE Watching necessary — A native funeral — Beautiful country — Casuarinæ — Chirping bird — Sorrel — Wood ducks — Spiny Ant-eater — Woman carrying dead bodies — Old woman — Flowers — Herd of wild horses — Blue mountains — Overlander — Cattle cross the river — Meeting of Captain Spencer and Mr. St. John — Captain Spencer entertains the Overlander — Conversation between the two gentlemen — Astonishment at Charlie — Mines of Adelaide — Murray River — Arrive at the River Darling — Character of natives — Mr. St. John gives introductions to Captain Spencer — The friends part with regret .... 242

Chapter XIII

Captain Spencer romantic — Birds — Native — Captain Spencer catches him, and relieves his hunger — Fairy-like plains — Bull comes down the hills, and gentlemen on horseback after him — Insects, and their webs and nests — Harry Blunt attacks Captain Spencer — Harry caught and overcome ; his companion stunned — Captain Spencer kind to the bush-ranger — Captain Spencer goes on — Forest flowers — Wooden pear — Lemons — Flying Foxes — Native cherry — Beautiful plants — Green Frogs — Lizards — Out-station — Shepherds — Laughing Jackass — Robin — Knife-grinder — Fish and its nest — Storm — Sorcerers make storms — Pine forest — Plants — Metamorphosis of beetle — Head keeper's station — Captain Spencer hospitably received — Tall black man's history — Harry Blunt's visits — Head keeper and wife very kind and hospitable — Untidy and deserted stations — Deserted townships — Ascend mountains — Meet drays — Ants — Come to. the river — Arrival at Mr. Onslow's farm 267

Chapter XIV

Description of Mr. Onslow's farm — Cordial reception of Captain Spencer — Clothes supplied — Conversations about CONTENTS. XVI PAGE Aborigines — Mr. Onslow wishes for Kinchela to enter his service ; Kinchela refuses — Dingoes, sheep, cattle — Mrs. Onslow's garden — Hunt stray cattle — Wayside inn — Cap tain Spencer's courage and nerve — Tiger's good behaviour — Letter from stock-keeper, Richardson, describing an in terview with Harry Blunt — Endeavours to persuade Cap tain Spencer to settle in Australia — Conversation with Mr. Onslow — Description of woods — Mare kills a foal — English plant springs up in the neighbourhood of cattle — Tarantula — Native Cat —Adventure of the pumpkins — ■ Parting — Mr. Onslow goes to Sydney with Captain Spencer — Kinchela rides with them — Mrs. Onslow's courage when attacked by natives — Arrival at Sydney- Charlie — Attempt of Gipsy, Tiger, and Charlie to accom pany their master — Harry Blunt taken — Captain Spencer obtains a mitigation of his sentence — Harry afterwards becomes a faithful servant to Mr. Onslow — Captain Spencer sends presents to all his friends — Arrival of all the travellers in Bombay ...... 300 CONCLUSION.

Letter from Mr, George Onslow about the gold mines . 330 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. The Wreck Frontispiece. Captain Spencer Heals the Native's Foot To face 122 The Kangaroo Hunt .... ,-.- Hunting the Stray Cattle ... !t ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA THE WANDERINGS OF CAPTAIN SPENCER.

Chapter I

IfisfS&'H E ALL Y, Spencer, your constitution, after the 9 M^sj *ate camPa'§n> requires some change, and *i^"l you must for a time leave India. Why linger, when you know that there is a necessity for going ? " Such were the observations of Dr. Dynes to Captain Spencer, of the — th regiment of Bombay Native Infantry, who pettishly replied that " he would not go to Europe." " It is not necessary that you should," said the doctor; " you can get as far as the Cape." " I hate the Cape," growled out the patient. " Well, go where you will," continued the good-natured adviser, smiling ; " both mind and body need renovation, and I shall send you the proper certificate, as my last prescription." So saying, he left the room, and Captain Spencer remained for some time in deep thought. At last, turning himself impatiently on his couch, he B i* AD VENTURES IN A USTRALIA. 2 muttered, " If it must be done, the sooner I set about it the better."

The energy of the young man, of which he had a large share, being now awakened, his counte nance brightened, his movements became more elastic. As he rose and walked up and down his room, his pace gradually quickened; and when his servant presented him with an envelope containing the aforesaid document, he said to him, "Yacoub, would you like to have a long holiday ? " "Yes, if Sahib please," replied the man, grinning. " Very well ; vanish ! " At these words the servant disappeared, wondering what was meant by the holiday ; while his master, having slipped on his uniform, repaired to his commanding officer. After remaining with him for some little time, he proceeded to the port, stepped into a small boat, and was seen wending his way among the Malay craft then at anchor in the bay. He went on board several vessels which were waiting for freight or hire, and returned to his quarters before the heat of the day commenced.

Fatigued with his exertions, he threw himself on a sofa ; but his mind was at first evidently too full of the future to sleep. One hand hung listlessly down by his side, and it was soon saluted by a cold nose, and the gentle touch of a tongue. " Ah ! Gipsy, why do you disturb your master ? " was the answer to this caress. " What will you do without me, my poor dog ? " At these words a small black-and-tan terrier leaped upon him, and nestling her head under his jacket, com posed herself to sleep. After a pause, her master, patting her head, seemed to have come to a fresh resolution, for he said, " Gip, you shall go with me ; we have never been separated since you were born, two years ago. You HIRES A SCHOONER. 3 shall go with your master, and help to take care of him ; and, what is more, Tiger shall go too.

He is as playful as a kitten ; he can sleep on deck ; he can step in and out of a boat like a waterman ; he can swim like a fish ; and, still better, he has not forgotten how to fight with his fore-feet. We'll all go together." Having thus settled matters to his satisfaction, Captain Spencer hugged Gipsy close up to him, turned round upon his side, and fell fast asleep. The arrangements for the voyage were not long making. Leave of absence was granted for a year, certain ; and if not returned at that time, it was to be extended to the soldier for at least another year. A pretty little schooner, with rakish masts and a comfortable cabin below, was engaged. She was manned by five Malays, who were well and favourably known in the port ; she was provided with a small boat, and a kind of stall was knocked up on the deck for Tiger ; but this accommodating steed, a half-bred Arab, grey in colour, and having a long white mane and tail, could, in case of bad weather, come down the cabin stairs and remain with his master.

One of the Malays undertook to curry and attend to him, and an ample store of food was pro vided for his sustenance. Captain Spencer discharged some of his servants, gave others the long holiday of which he had spoken to Yacoub, with an allowance of wages through his agent; and taking leave of his friends in Bombay, started for a cruise on the western side of the Indian Archipelago. He did not like to go much between the islands, for fear of piracy; but he kept within their reach, that he might occasionally renew his stock of eatables. The idle and the dissipated wondered at him ; his acquaintances said he was an odd fellow ; and his friends, knowing how much "good stuff" there was in him, thought him right to please himself. Tea, sugar, hams, flour, biscuit, rice, and water were placed in the small hold, with various other comforts; and poultry was lodged on the deck.

The traveller furnished himself with books, drawing and writing materials, took a quantity of fishing-tackle, extra horse-shoes, various tools, a double-barrelled gun, a brace of double-barrelled pistols, a short sword, and a plentiful supply of ammu nition. He also had a good chart, and a small but powerful pocket-telescope. A close friendship existed between Tiger and Gipsy ; and as all the life of the latter had been spent with her master and the horse, she was perfectly happy when with them, wherever it might be; and as to Tiger, he emulated Gipsy in docility and attachment. The little party proceeded smoothly; the health of the four-footed animals was preserved by now and then landing on one of the islands, and taking a run and a gallop ; and for a time the invalid was pleased with the dreamy sort of life which such a scene afforded.

One great source of interest lay in watching the inhabitants of those seas, which are so varied, so beautiful, and at times so grotesque. A morning's amusement consisted of converting one of those enormous shells called Tritons1 into a tea-kettle. Not that Captain Spencer was without this necessary utensil, but the singularity of the thing, as described to him, had struck his fancy ; so, when one of the crew brought him the shell complete, with its lid, or operculum, he determined to exercise his skill upon it. Laying it upon the table in his cabin, he with a gimlet bored a hole opposite to the part on Avhich it 1 Triton variegatus. TEACHES A BIRD TO SPEAK. 5 rested steadily, and inserted a thick iron wire into it; with a pair of pincers he twisted this at the lower end, so as to prevent it from slipping through the hole; and at the top he bent it into a handle, round which he put some plaited hairs out of Tiger's tail.

Into the oper culum he inserted a smaller and shorter wire secured in the like manner, and the long canal of the shell served for a spout. In the evening, after being put on the hot ashes of the caboose fire, water was brought to him in it, boiling with great bubbles, as French people call it when fit for making tea, and he was perfectly satisfied with his own workmanship. He afterwards completed his tea service by making use of the Clamp shell1 as a cup, which on one of his excursions ashore he found attached to a rock by its thick tough byssus. He chopped this away with his hatchet, and then removed the velvet looking animal within, covered with its beautiful spots, and lying in a heap in one part of the shell. He had chosen one of the least, for some of them weighed six hundred pounds ; still his equipage was heavy, it must be owned ; but it had the advantage of not being liable to break.

One of Captain Spencer's daily occupations was to teach a bird to speak, which one of his men had caught in the interior of an island. At first he thought it was what Linnæus called the Gracula religiosa, which now bears the name of Eulabes ; but its beak differed, and he concluded, from its entire resemblance in other respects, that it must be only a different species ; its talking powers, however, were even more remarkable. The Malay told him he had been attracted by its perfect 1 Tridacne gigas. imitation of himself and his companion as they spoke, and he had easily captured it, owing to an injury it had received in one Of its wings. In a short time the bird called Gipsy and Tiger, and talked most impertinently to its master as Ned Spencer. The invalid might have recruited his strength with bird's-nest soup, formed of a marine plant which his men called Agal-agal, and which, when made into nests, hung to the sides of shallow caves, like watch-pockets ; but he did not relish its insipid taste.

The Malays, however, procured a great number of these, with the intention of selling them on their return; and they frequently asked their master's permission to stay in some spots, where they dived for pearls. They brought him several specimens of their treasures, some of which were of a pale straw colour, and others taken from the shell called Pinna, were quite black. Occasionally, as he stepped over a rough beach during his excursions, he was amused with the Carrier Trochus, as it jumped over the obstacles in its way, gathering fresh fragments of shells and sand as it went along, lifting its superfluous burden by the action of its body, and trailing its operculum behind. The tentacula were generally stretched out, the creature bent down its thick pink proboscis, its large black eyes seemed to watch sharply for its food, and its carrier labours seemed almost ludicrous, from the idea they conveyed to the observer of being unnecessary.

Multitudes of fishes played about the rocks, particularly the Scorfenœ, which attracted notice by the extra ordinary development of the spines about their head, also of their fins, and by their brilliant colours. There was a great variety of beautiful, branching Corallines, and sea weeds of strange forms and splendid hues, showing a rich THE ORGAN-FISH 7 world of interest beneath the waters. In the Mangrove swamps they found the Close-eyed Gudgeon,1 which, when it landed on firm ground, jumped about like a frog, slid along on its belly, or climbed the roots of the trees. They took some of the fighting fishes on board, and there kept them in water, to watch the fury with which they quarrelled, changed colour, and darted at each other, if they came in too close contact. One night, as Captain Spencer lay asleep, he was awoke by a strange singing and monotonous noise ; and Gipsy at once started upon her feet, and throwing up her head, uttered a howl which completely roused the whole crew, who rushed on deck together with their master, while the two who had remained up to watch and steer spoke and looked mysteriously.