Band 
Vol. I.
Seite
266
JPEG-Download
 

266

TRANSACTIONS AT

probably covered : and even if it were not con-cealed it would transmit no current of air in-wardly unless the tide were going out, whichhe thinks was not the case. At the time Hig-gins was there the weather Avas perfectly calm,not a breath of wind stirring ; consequently,the influx of air must have been occasioned bythe descent of the surface of water within : onthe other hand, when the water rises the airmust rush out. This cavern therefore may besaid to respire like an animal; the rise and fallof the tide acting as a diaphragm, and theabove-mentioned narrow passage as a breathinghole. Jeremiah Higgins also heard the storyof the young chief and his mistress, whichperfectly accorded in all the material pointswith what is told above: it appears from hisnarration as well as from Mr. Mariners, thatthe natives give this account of the two loversas a piece of true history, not a romance.There is a sort of shelf at the farther end ofthe cavern and high up, Avhich is pointed outas having been used for a bed-place.

Finow and his party having finished theircava, dived out of the cavern, and resumedtheir proper dress : after which they proceededacross the country, and got into the publicroads, to amuse themselves with the sport ofshooting rats. These animals are not so large