Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-05-03
THE "sPLTT ROCK" IN THE PACIFIC.
PROM "Rovrses IN THE rAc1rrc"-A sEw sooK

THE "SPLTT ROCK" IN THE PACIFIC.
PROM "RovIsss THE PAcHIc"-A new BOOK
The Island Of Rotumah sort of occasional station
for author. Near il was remarkable object called the
"spit ROck"a small island split in two by convul-
sion Of Nature leaving passage through it, visit made
to this place. n company with named Emery, who had
lived for years neghborng island which he had
given his name, Of the most interesting passages in
the Rosngs" for The picture of wonderful natural pho
nomena, well Of the power that attain in ats
Of agility.
We seered for the south side Of the isand that might
paddle through the split As neared the weather was
80 calm that though soundngs could be obtained close
the sland and the side rounding perpendicu-
la from the wae the long CLASSY unduations Of the ocean
laved the rocky base without creating ripple. We ap-
preached within oars length Of this immense rcck It's
grandeur imposed feelings of awe and could scarcely recon-
cie to my mind that in safe position However,
eh It to Emery, who experien ced hand. On gain
Ing the passage, fell si less my ease only Of ss
cient width 70 admit Of csnoe being padded through and 10
about two hundred fee in length The twosdss Of the cleft
correspond exactly, and one third from the summit
OF the opening massive block firmly wedged; and from
its appearance am confirmed in the opinion that in the
that caused this singular phenomeaon The fear
ul cnasn was about 10 Close the upper part Of the island
tered from its centre and umbIed into the yawning gulf where
got mmovaby ammed and prevented closer union leaving
this passage memorial Of the terrific convusons that must
have troubled these seas and reminding man of the insiani
canoe OF all his works when compared with the grand and
mighty operations Nature The in TIE passage ap-
Peared of mmeasuable depth and the long smooth rolling
swell that swept through seemed like the convouions Of
monster Of the deep We had only one native with us
who had been the island before and he desired us TO turn
face about that might work the through stern first
as the andingpac arboard hand ard the out
rgge being the arboard side Of the canoe should get
dashed pieces unless shifted was somewhat startled
and, being swimmer did altogether relish the ute
gence but the mpeurbabe GOODNESS with which old Emery
set to work caused me suppress any observation tempt
ed 10 make On clearing the passage prepared for
an awkward andiDgpace, quite prepared for what
saw The island wall Of rock shooting upwards from four
hundred to six hundred feet high and curving like horse
shoe the southeastern termination Of the being split and
llven into thousand nnaces and rocky needless The pas
we came through exactly the of the
but instead Of finding the placid in the shoow it
was outside, it umbng about foamng and seethag like
boiling caldron, roaring and dashng up the rocks if
trying TO oveeaP the opposing barrier and n its retreat form
ing such eddes that momentary expected be shvered
like the rocks around The whole swell of the
into this hollow and there breeze the contract
ing points Of the conne the rolling blows which in
their recoi create this dancing turmoil.
We ii for that the natives from Wea had pad
died into the hollow before us they accustomed
the island, and to land its steep and slippery Sides The
way they managed was admirable They balanced their
noes close to the pecpous rock that the ashng surge
broke just under their bows and roaring hundred feet
above them Wondering what they going TO do,
noticed two Of them plunge into the crest Of gigantic roller
and when had spent ITSELF and expected to their
standing on the rocks high head smiling and noddng
U.s. One OF them had long rope coled round his waist,
and he threw the end Of down Emery gave to me-
and told me, when the swell hove nearly on level
with the men, to leap with all my might towards them My
amazement at this cool request great for utteance
but somehow did desired Watching the favora-
bic moment gave spring, and the natives who held the
rope, secondng the Impetus erked alongside Of them
like fish out Of water Emery followed Immediately after,
aided in the way. The with who had already
visited the island threw himself overheard and in few mi
nutes ne also had secured footing, dripping like water
spre The left in the canoe their presence of mind
and would inaby have been lost had not the natives from
Wea reassured them, and directed them how 10 set"
There is little soil on the summit walke ridge of
the island yielding growth Of grass and peculiar
rlety scrub The natives have likewise succeeded
ing few cocoanut The ascent to novice is rather
perious and made wink. You have to wind your way
laeraly, and at point you have pass round the
salient projection Of bald rock where the footing shelving,
and not fourteen inches boad the rock overhead bugng for
ward while below you have sheer fall between hundred
and three hundred feet in depth. for giving it up,
when Emery took the lead telling me the only dan
gerous spot but then he baecoted and for years had
been habua,ed 60 The tenderness Of my feet would
not allow me to dispense with shoes, and the slippery soes
made my case more perous False shame prevented my
ereaipg, but at the time could help considering that
the object TO be obtained scarcely worth the risk When
had sidled halfway this very awkward pass, my
arms extended and fingers stretched nervousy cluchng
at any little unevennes of surface and whilst was hesans
where next to put my foot cropping in vain for fssure
Which, my OF iof soHe Ioot Has
might grasp, caught sight Of the ghul descent my head
and was turning sick At this of imminent
risk, native daringy swayed himself outside me- striking
snary the back he passed This recalled my senser
and arrived in safety rmer footing again The rapdiy
with which this bold action performed surprising for
the mans body have been of the Of ga
vry, and believe the poor fellow endangered his life to in
spre with confidence. for had slipped when he
passing he would have been involved In desuc
ton"
DIVING FOR SHELLS.-FRoM THE SAME BOOK.
Much Of the diving took place the Bow Island Of Cook,
Or in its vicinity. This is the account of the process
On arriving reef knoll, the boat secured by
lie painter projecting branch and the divers proceeded to
dive from in s directions; and they brought up tha
Shells they threw them into the shallow on the knoll
until the shells became scarce, they became want
ID TO pull TO another station Shelish of varieus descp
ions attached 10 and wedged in the coral branches appa-
emily having grown with their growth. On still calm day
'ou may the bottom at twelve falhoms and the
helh when feeding reflect iins Of the brilliant and
eauul hue and fish Of every conceivable form and color
nay be sporting in the nersces Of the branches
II is curious sight watch the divers with scarcely
movement they will dart the bottom like an arrow ex-
mine beneath every prorudng rock, and, on continuing
heir vestg ATOMS by simple of the arm viii
ope hemselves horizontally through the water and this at
he depth Of seven eight faboms timed several BY the
vach and the longest period knew any of them to keep
eneath the water minute and quarter and there
My two who accomplished this feat One OF them from his
eat skill was ncknamed by his companions the 'Oa,
stone Rather less than minute was the usual duration.
hne weather they can the Shells when, IL the water
deep, they dive nge for them and the shells ad
ere nrmly TO the coral by strong Boards requires no little