Adescriptionofthenatureofthisimportantarticleofcommerce，andthemethodofpreparingit，mayproveofsomeinteresttomyreaders，andIcanfindnomoresuitableplacethanthisforintroducinganaccountofit。ThefollowingcomprehensivenoticeofthesubstanceistakenfromamodernhistoryofavoyagetotheSouthSeas。
　　“Itisthat_mollusca_fromtheIndianSeaswhichisknowntocommercebytheFrenchname_bouchedemer_anicemorselfromthesea。IfIamnotmuchmistaken，thecelebratedCuviercallsit_gasteropedapulmonifera_。ItisabundantlygatheredinthecoastsofthePacificislands，andgatheredespeciallyfortheChinesemarket，whereitcommandsagreatprice，perhapsasmuchastheirmuch-talked-ofediblebirds’nests，whichareproperlymadeupofthegelatinousmatterpickedupbyaspeciesofswallowfromthebodyofthesemolluscae。Theyhavenoshell，nolegs，noranyprominentpart，exceptan_absorbing_andan_excretory_，oppositeorgans；but，bytheirelasticwings，likecaterpillarsorworms，theycreepinshallowwaters，inwhich，whenlow，theycanbeseenbyakindofswallow，thesharpbillofwhich，insertedinthesoftanimal，drawsagummyandfilamentoussubstance，which，bydrying，canbewroughtintothesolidwallsoftheirnest。Hencethenameof_gasteropedapulmonifera_。
　　“Thismolluscaisoblong，andofdifferentsizes，fromthreetoeighteeninchesinlength；andIhaveseenafewthatwerenotlessthantwofeetlong。Theywerenearlyround，alittleflattishononeside，whichliesnexttothebottomofthesea；andtheyarefromonetoeightinchesthick。Theycrawlupintoshallowwateratparticularseasonsoftheyear，probablyforthepurposeofgendering，asweoftenfindtheminpairs。Itiswhenthesunhasthemostpoweronthewater，renderingittepid，thattheyapproachtheshore；andtheyoftengoupintoplacessoshallowthat，onthetide’sreceding，theyareleftdry，exposedtothebeatofthesun。Buttheydonotbringforththeiryounginshallowwater，asweneverseeanyoftheirprogeny，andfull-grownonesarealwaysobservedcominginfromdeepwater。Theyfeedprincipallyonthatclassofzoophyteswhichproducethecoral。
　　“The_bichedemer_isgenerallytakeninthreeorfourfeetofwater；afterwhichtheyarebroughtonshore，andsplitatoneendwithaknife，theincisionbeingoneinchormore，accordingtothesizeofthemollusca。Throughthisopeningtheentrailsareforcedoutbypressure，andtheyaremuchlikethoseofanyothersmalltenantofthedeep。Thearticleisthenwashed，andafterwardboiledtoacertaindegree，whichmustnotbetoomuchortoolittle。Theyarethenburiedinthegroundforfourhours，thenboiledagainforashorttime，afterwhichtheyaredried，eitherbythefireorthesun。Thosecuredbythesunareworththemost；butwhereonepicul1331/3lbs。canbecuredthatway，Icancurethirtypiculsbythefire。Whenonceproperlycured，theycanbekeptinadryplacefortwoorthreeyearswithoutanyrisk；buttheyshouldbeexaminedonceineveryfewmonths，sayfourtimesayear，toseeifanydampnessislikelytoaffectthem。
　　“TheChinese，asbeforestated，consider_bichedemer_averygreatluxury，believingthatitwonderfullystrengthensandnourishesthesystem，andrenewstheexhaustedsystemoftheimmoderatevoluptuary。ThefirstqualitycommandsahighpriceinCanton，beingworthninetydollarsapicul；thesecondquality，seventy-fivedollars；thethird，fiftydollars；thefourth，thirtydollars；thefifth，twentydollars；thesixth，twelvedollars；theseventh，eightdollars；andtheeighth，fourdollars；smallcargoes，however，willoftenbringmoreinManilla，Singapore，andBatavia。”
　　Anagreementhavingbeenthusenteredinto，weproceededimmediatelytolandeverythingnecessaryforpreparingthebuildingsandclearingtheground。Alargeflatspaceneartheeasternshoreofthebaywasselected，wheretherewasplentyofbothwoodandwater，andwithinaconvenientdistanceoftheprincipalreefsonwhichthe_bichedemer_wastobeprocured。Wenowallsettoworkingoodearnest，andsoon，tothegreatastonishmentofthesavages，hadfelledasufficientnumberoftreesforourpurpose，gettingthemquicklyinorderfortheframeworkofthehouses，whichintwoorthreedaysweresofarunderwaythatwecouldsafelytrusttherestoftheworktothethreemenwhomweintendedtoleavebehind。ThesewereJohnCarson，AlfredHarris，and___PetersonallnativesofLondon，Ibelieve，whovolunteeredtheirservicesinthisrespect。
　　Bythelastofthemonthwehadeverythinginreadinessfordeparture。Wehadagreed，however，topayaformalvisitofleave-takingtothevillage，andToo-witinsistedsopertinaciouslyuponourkeepingthepromisethatwedidnotthinkitadvisabletoruntheriskofoffendinghimbyafinalrefusal。Ibelievethatnotoneofushadatthistimetheslightestsuspicionofthegoodfaithofthesavages。Theyhaduniformlybehavedwiththegreatestdecorum，aidinguswithalacrityinourwork，offeringustheircommodities，frequentlywithoutprice，andnever，inanyinstance，pilferingasinglearticle，althoughthehighvaluetheysetuponthegoodswehadwithuswasevidentbytheextravagantdemonstrationsofjoyalwaysmanifesteduponourmakingthemapresent。Thewomenespeciallyweremostobligingineveryrespect，and，uponthewhole，weshouldhavebeenthemostsuspiciousofhumanbeingshadweentertainedasinglethoughtofperfidyonthepartofapeoplewhotreatedussowell。Averyshortwhilesufficedtoprovethatthisapparentkindnessofdispositionwasonlytheresultofadeeplylaidplanforourdestruction，andthattheislandersforwhomweentertainedsuchinordinatefeelingsofesteem，wereamongthemostbarbarous，subtle，andbloodthirstywretchesthatevercontaminatedthefaceoftheglobe。
　　ItwasonthefirstofFebruarythatwewentonshoreforthepurposeofvisitingthevillage。Although，assaidbefore，weentertainednottheslightestsuspicion，stillnoproperprecautionwasneglected。Sixmenwereleftintheschooner，withinstructionstopermitnoneofthesavagestoapproachthevesselduringourabsence，underanypretencewhatever，andtoremainconstantlyondeck。Theboarding-nettingswereup，thegunsdouble-shottedwithgrapeandcanister，andtheswivelsloadedwithcanistersofmusket-balls。Shelay，withheranchorapeak，aboutamilefromtheshore，andnocanoecouldapproachherinanydirectionwithoutbeingdistinctlyseenandexposedtothefullfireofourswivelsimmediately。
　　Thesixmenbeingleftonboard，ourshore-partyconsistedofthirty。twopersonsinall。Wewerearmedtotheteeth，havingwithusmuskets，pistols，andcutlasses；besides，eachhadalongkindofseaman’sknife，somewhatresemblingthebowieknifenowsomuchusedthroughoutourwesternandsoutherncountry。Ahundredoftheblackskinwarriorsmetusatthelandingforthepurposeofaccompanyingusonourway。Wenoticed，however，withsomesurprise，thattheywerenowentirelywithoutarms；and，uponquestioningToo-witinrelationtothiscircumstance，hemerelyansweredthat_Matteenonwepapasi_meaningthattherewasnoneedofarmswhereallwerebrothers。Wetookthisingoodpart，andproceeded。
　　WehadpassedthespringandrivuletofwhichIbeforespoke，andwerenowenteringuponanarrowgorgeleadingthroughthechainofsoapstonehillsamongwhichthevillagewassituated。Thisgorgewasveryrockyanduneven，somuchsothatitwaswithnolittledifficultywescrambledthroughitonourfirstvisittoKlock-klock。
　　Thewholelengthoftheravinemighthavebeenamileandahalf，orprobablytwomiles。Itwoundineverypossibledirectionthroughthehillshavingapparentlyformed，atsomeremoteperiod，thebedofatorrent，innoinstanceproceedingmorethantwentyyardswithoutanabruptturn。Thesidesofthisdellwouldhaveaveraged，Iamsure，seventyoreightyfeetinperpendicularaltitudethroughoutthewholeoftheirextent，andinsomeportionstheyarosetoanastonishingheight，overshadowingthepasssocompletelythatbutlittleofthelightofdaycouldpenetrate。Thegeneralwidthwasaboutfortyfeet，andoccasionallyitdiminishedsoasnottoallowthepassageofmorethanfiveorsixpersonsabreast。Inshort，therecouldbenoplaceintheworldbetteradaptedfortheconsummationofanambuscade，anditwasnomorethannaturalthatweshouldlookcarefullytoourarmsasweentereduponit。WhenInowthinkofouregregiousfolly，thechiefsubjectofastonishmentseemstobe，thatweshouldhaveeverventured，underanycircumstances，socompletelyintothepowerofunknownsavagesastopermitthemtomarchbothbeforeandbehindusinourprogressthroughthisravine。Yetsuchwastheorderweblindlytookup，trustingfoolishlytotheforceofourparty，theunarmedconditionofToo-witandhismen，thecertainefficacyofourfirearmswhoseeffectwasyetasecrettothenatives，and，morethanall，tothelong-sustainedpretensionoffriendshipkeptupbytheseinfamouswretches。Fiveorsixofthemwentonbefore，asiftoleadtheway，ostentatiouslybusyingthemselvesinremovingthelargerstonesandrubbishfromthepath。Nextcameourownparty。Wewalkedcloselytogether，takingcareonlytopreventseparation。
　　Behindfollowedthemainbodyofthesavages，observingunusualorderanddecorum。
　　DirkPeters，amannamedWilsonAllen，andmyselfwereontherightofourcompanions，examining，aswewentalong，thesingularstratificationoftheprecipicewhichoverhungus。Afissureinthesoftrockattractedourattention。Itwasaboutwideenoughforonepersontoenterwithoutsqueezing，andextendedbackintothehillsomeeighteenortwentyfeetinastraightcourse，slopingafterwardtotheleft。Theheightoftheopening，isfaraswecouldseeintoitfromthemaingorge，wasperhapssixtyorseventyfeet。Therewereoneortwostuntedshrubsgrowingfromthecrevices，bearingaspeciesoffilbertwhichIfeltsomecuriositytoexamine，andpushedinbrisklyforthatpurpose，gatheringfiveorsixofthenutsatagrasp，andthenhastilyretreating。AsIturned，IfoundthatPetersandAllenhadfollowedme。Idesiredthemtogoback，astherewasnotroomfortwopersonstopass，sayingtheyshouldhavesomeofmynuts。Theyaccordinglyturned，andwerescramblingback，Allenbeingclosetothemouthofthefissure，whenIwassuddenlyawareofaconcussionresemblingnothingIhadeverbeforeexperienced，andwhichimpressedmewithavagueconception，ifindeedIthenthoughtofanything，thatthewholefoundationsofthesolidglobeweresuddenlyrentasunder，andthatthedayofuniversaldissolutionwasathand。
　　ASsoonasIcouldcollectmyscatteredsenses，Ifoundmyselfnearlysuffocated，andgrovellinginutterdarknessamongaquantityoflooseearth，whichwasalsofallinguponmeheavilyineverydirection，threateningtoburymeentirely。Horriblyalarmedatthisidea，Istruggledtogainmyfeet，andatlastsucceeded。Ithenremainedmotionlessforsomemoments，endeavouringtoconceivewhathadhappenedtome，andwhereIwas。PresentlyIheardadeepgroanjustatmyear，andafterwardthesmotheredvoiceofPeterscallingtomeforaidinthenameofGod。Iscrambledoneortwopacesforward，whenIfelldirectlyovertheheadandshouldersofmycompanion，who，Isoondiscovered，wasburiedinaloosemassofearthasfarashismiddle，andstrugglingdesperatelytofreehimselffromthepressure。ItorethedirtfromaroundhimwithalltheenergyIcouldcommand，andatlengthsucceededingettinghimout。
　　Assoonaswesufficientlyrecoveredfromourfrightandsurprisetobecapableofconversingrationally，webothcametotheconclusionthatthewallsofthefissureinwhichwehadventuredhad，bysomeconvulsionofnature，orprobablyfromtheirownweight，cavedinoverhead，andthatwewereconsequentlylostforever，beingthusentombedalive。Foralongtimewegaveupsupinelytothemostintenseagonyanddespair，suchascannotbeadequatelyimaginedbythosewhohaveneverbeeninasimilarposition。Ifirmlybelievedthatnoincidenteveroccurringinthecourseofhumaneventsismoreadaptedtoinspirethesupremenessofmentalandbodilydistressthanacaselikeourown，oflivinginhumation。Theblacknessofdarknesswhichenvelopsthevictim，theterrificoppressionoflungs，thestiflingfumesfromthedampearth，unitewiththeghastlyconsiderationsthatwearebeyondtheremotestconfinesofhope，andthatsuchistheallottedportionofthedead，tocarryintothehumanheartadegreeofappallingaweandhorrornottobetolerated-
　　nevertobeconceived。
　　AtlengthPetersproposedthatweshouldendeavourtoascertainpreciselytheextentofourcalamity，andgropeaboutourprison；itbeingbarelypossible，heobserved，thatsomeopeningmightyetbeleftusforescape。Icaughteagerlyatthishope，and，arousingmyselftoexertion，attemptedtoforcemywaythroughthelooseearth。HardlyhadIadvancedasinglestepbeforeaglimmeroflightbecameperceptible，enoughtoconvincemethat，atallevents，weshouldnotimmediatelyperishforwantofair。Wenowtooksomedegreeofheart，andencouragedeachothertohopeforthebest。
　　Havingscrambledoverabankofrubbishwhichimpededourfartherprogressinthedirectionofthelight，wefoundlessdifficultyinadvancingandalsoexperiencedsomerelieffromtheexcessiveoppressionoflungswhichhadtormentedus。Presentlywewereenabledtoobtainaglimpseoftheobjectsaround，anddiscoveredthatwewereneartheextremityofthestraightportionofthefissure，whereitmadeaturntotheleft。Afewstrugglesmore，andwereachedthebend，whentoourinexpressiblejoy，thereappearedalongseamorcrackextendingupwardavastdistance，generallyatanangleofaboutforty-fivedegrees，althoughsometimesmuchmoreprecipitous。