within the limits of a horse-shoe.
It is, perhaps, nine miles in circumference. You approach it from the sea
by a narrow entrance, flanked on either side by two small twin islets
which soar conically to the height of some five hundred feet. From these
the shore recedes on both hands, and describes a deep semicircle.

From the verge of the water the land rises uniformly on all sides, with
green and sloping acclivities, until from gently rolling hillsides and
moderate elevations it insensibly swells into lofty and majestic heights,
whose blue outlines, ranged all around, close in the view. The beautiful
aspect of the shore is heightened by deep and romantic glens, which come
down to it at almost equal distances, all apparently radiating from a
common centre, and the upper extremities of which are lost to the eye
beneath the shadow of the mountains. Down each of these little valleys
flows a clear stream, here and there assuming the form of a slender
cascade, then stealing invisibly along until it bursts upon the sight
again in larger and more noisy waterfalls, and at last demurely wanders
along to the sea.

The houses of the natives, constructed of the yellow bamboo, tastefully
twisted together in a kind of wickerwork, and thatched with the long
tapering leaves of the palmetto, are scattered irregularly along these
valleys beneath the shady branches of the cocoa-nut trees.

Nothing can exceed the imposing scenery of this bay. Viewed from our ship
as she lay at anchor in the middle of the harbour, it presented the
appearance of a vast natural amphitheatre in decay, and overgrown with
vines, the deep glens that furrowed its sides appearing like enormous
fissures caused by the ravages of time. Very often when lost in admiration
at its beauty, I have experienced a pang of regret that a scene so
enchanting should be hidden from the world in these remote seas, and
seldom meet the eyes of devoted lovers of nature.

Besides this bay the shores of the island are indented by several other
extensive inlets, into which descend broad and verdant valleys. These are
inhabited by as many distinct tribes of savages, who, although speaking
kindred dialects of a common language, and having the same religion and
laws, have from time immemorial waged hereditary warfare against each
other. The intervening mountains, generally two or three thousand feet
above the level of the sea, geographically define the territories of each
of these hostil