are
very strong, and at spring tides the tide rips in certain places must
be carefully avoided. The flood flows for two hours after it is high
water and the ebb continues to run a similar length of time after the
water commences rising again. It is the sweeping tides and the vast
amount of living reef that make the Sooloo waters so favourable for the
growth of the Mother-of-Pearl oyster ; and the prosecution of the
fishing amongst the turbulent waters of their island homes, developes
the Sooloo lads into bold and enterprising sailors.
The
plate opposite represents the head-quarters of the author's exploring
party at Lamenusa. It was built on the edge of a reef about 200 yards
from the shore, beautifully sheltered by neighÂbouring reefs from the
swells of the ocean. At high tide there was six feet of water under the
house, so that boats and a steam launch could come alongside. This
house was wantonly pillaged and wrecked during its owner's absence in
March, 1884, at the time of the civil war which broke out after the
death of the late Sultan. The town of Lamenusa, which contained fully
2000 inhabitants, has been entirely destroyed, the people being killed,
dispersed, and many of them sold into slavery. No roof has been left,
and where the merry voices of scores of Bajan children at play used to
echo from
