ent inundation, where each house is perched on the top of piles.
We saw with astonishment clusters of oysters and other shell-fish
clinging to the trunk and branches, as well as to the roots of these
trees, which proves that the early voyagers were not such inventors of
facts as folks suppose them, nor far wrong in reporting that they had
seen fish growing like fruit on trees!

Shortly before entering this watery wilderness, we encountered a party
of native pearl-divers; and the Admiral, who was at all times most
provokingly sceptical as to reported wonderful exploits, pulled out
his watch, and insisted on timing the best diver amongst them, to see
how long he could remain under water. In no case did the poor fellow
make out a minute complete; upon which, the Admiral held up his watch
exultingly in his triumph, and laughing to scorn the assurances that
at other parts of the island divers might be found who could remain
five minutes at the bottom. "Show me them! show me them!" cried he,
"and then, but not till then--begging you pardon--I shall believe it."
The challenge remained unanswered.

The method used by these divers is to place between their feet a
basket loaded with one or two large lumps of coral, the weight of
which carries them rapidly to the bottom. The oysters being then
substituted for the stones, the diver disengages his feet, and shoots
up to the surface again, either bringing the full basket with him, or
leaving it to be drawn up by a line.

Nothing could be imagined more wild than the mangrove avenue through
which we rowed, or rather paddled, for the strait was so narrow that
there was no room for the oars when pushed out to their full length.
The sailors, therefore, were often obliged to catch hold of the
branches and roots of the trees, to draw the boats along. The foliage,
as may be supposed, where perennial heat and moisture occur in
abundance, spread overhead in such extraordinary luxuriance that few
of the sun's rays could penetrate the massy net-work of leaves and
branches forming the roof of our fairy passage. Not a single bird
could be seen, either seated or on the wing; nor was even a chirp
distinguishable above the dreamy hum of millions of mosquitoes
floating about, in a calm so profound, that it seemed as if the
surface of the water had never been disturbed since the Creation. The
air, though cool, felt so heavy and choky, that, by the time we had
scrambled to the end of this strange tun