hitherto undreamed of.

When we had been some days upon the island Hartog expressed to the king
his desire to obtain the pearl shells of which we could see an
abundance at the bottom of the bay, within easy reach of an expert
diver, and as these islanders were as much at home in the water as upon
land, we soon had a pile of shell upon the beach which some of the crew
set to work to open; but although we opened a great number of shells
very few pearls were found, and none of any special value.

When the king observed what we were in search of he offered Hartog for
his acceptance a number of pearls, some of large size and perfect
colour, which from time to time he had collected.

"'Twill be enough to satisfy the merchants," said Hartog to me when he
had safely locked up this treasure on board the "Endraght", "but
nothing over, unless we can add to the collection by our own
exertions." But although we continued to open shells for several days
no great haul of pearls was made. The pearl shell we shipped, knowing
that it would fetch a good price at Amsterdam.

Hartog was so relieved at having secured something that would repay the
expenses of the voyage that he recovered his natural buoyancy of
spirits which had lately been oppressed by the prospect of returning
home empty-handed.

"'Tis wonderful, the power of money, Peter," he said to me one evening
when we were counting, in secret, the pearls which the king of the
island had given him; "we have come through some perils, as you know,
but I give you my word I was never so afraid of anything as of going