the most valued."

Emily and Grace, however, when they saw the creatures, could not help
expressing exclamations of disgust at their appearance. They were like
gigantic slugs, or long black bags with frills at the top. Mr Hooker
purchased a basket full of the creatures, which he wished to examine
more at his leisure.

"But of what use can those ugly things be?" asked Emily, as we pulled
back to the vessel.

"Our omnivorous friends the Chinese would be very much surprised at your
asking the question," answered Mr Hooker. "They look upon them as one
of their most delicate articles of food, though greatly inferior to the
birds' nests we found yesterday. I see it stated that from Macassar
alone these creatures are shipped to China to the value of 150,000
pounds; and this is only a very small portion of those used, not only by
the Chinese, but the natives of many other parts of the shores of those
seas. When taken on shore, their intestines are removed, and they are
then boiled in sea-water: in some places with the leaves of the papaw,
and in others with the bark of the mangrove-tree, which gives them a
bright red colour. After they have been boiled, they are buried in the
ground till the next day, when they are spread out to dry in the sun.
They are now considered fit for shipment to China, to which the larger
number are sent. In some places, however, they are not buried, but
smoked over the fire on a framework formed of bamboo. The Chinese make
them into soups, sometimes boiling pieces of sugar-cane with them, which
is said to neutralise their rank flavour."

Sailing round the north end of the group, we approached its capital, or
chief trading settlement, situated off the north-west end. It is called
Dobbo. Just as we came off it we sighted a Dutch man-of-war brig, and
stood towards her. The wind was light, and she had, apparently,
fishing-lines overboard. Mr Hooker hailed her, and asked her where she
was bound for. Her commander, who spoke English, replied, "For
Ternate."

"How fortunate!" I exclaimed. "We can then write to Captain Davenport,
and tell him of our safety."

The commander at once politely offered to convey a letter. "He might
however," he observed, "be some little time on the passage, as he was in
search of pirates, whose vessels had lately been heard of in those seas,
and had committed depredations on the islands under protection of the
Dutch."

We all hurried down into the cabin t