And now we approached some cliffs, beyond which appeared a lofty range,
which, from our present position, and the bearings given on Marco
Polo's chart, Hartog declared to be the Ruby Mountains.
As we approached the cliffs, a bold headland, which stood between us
and a view of the coast beyond, assumed the appearance of a lion's
head. The resemblance was so striking that it appeared as if the mighty
hand of Nature had hewn a colossus from the living rock in the shape of
a lion to guard the entrance into this land.
Upon rounding this remarkable promontory, we found ourselves opposite a
beach bordered by a broad line of surf, which indicated that the water
here was very shallow for some distance from the shore. Both the surf
and the beach seemed to be alive with black children, so diminutive
were the forms who disported themselves in the breakers, or ran up and
down upon the sand with the eagerness and agility generally displayed
by boys at the seaside. As to the real ages of these people, however,
we were not left long in doubt. Four canoes put off from the shore and
came alongside. They were manned by twenty-five blacks, who,
notwithstanding their small stature, we could see at a glance were
full-grown men.
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