[83] As the willows require much moisture, they are carefully watered every morning and evening by the soldier who attends and has charge of the place. [84] Which is at present occupied by the governor, the former residence, Plantation-house, being found in a very unhealthy situation. [85] After the revolution at Paris, in 1830, and the tri-coloured banner had again waved over the towers of France, when the first French ship arrived at St. Helena, with that revolutionary standard at her gaff, her commander and crew visiting the tomb, placed a tri-coloured cockade upon it, glorying in “restoring to him his colours, under which he had so often led the French nation to victory, and which ensign was again the emblem of liberty to France.” [86] The want of rain for the plantations appears to be much needed; but next month heavy rain is expected to fall. [87] A large gannet was seen flying about the ship on the afternoon of the previous day, indicating a near approach to land: we were at that time about ninety miles distant from the island. [88] Three lazy frigate-birds, too indolent to fish for themselves, were seen, pursuing an unfortunate sea-swallow, which had probably succeeded in capturing a fish. It is usual for these birds to pursue the gannets, and others, when returning from their fishing excursions, compelling them to disgorge their fish. [89] Blumenbach’s Comparative Anatomy, by Lawrence and Coulson, page 76. [90] The shark is more wary of taking the bait when unaccompanied by the pilot-fish; it will then approach, and retire, several times before it ventures to seize it; but when the little pilot is in company it will first approach the bait, (the shark waiting at some distance,) and return, as if to report; when the shark advances and seizes the bait without hesitation: this I have remarked in numerous instances. [91] Being at first stationary, and of a dark colour, a ship passing it rapidly might have considered it as one, and reported accordingly, and such a circumstance has no doubt caused many rocks to be laid down in the charts which have actually no existence. [92] In one of the fabulous legends of the natives of the Island of Tahiti, their island is represented “as having been a shark, originally from Raitea. Matarafau, in the east, was the head; and a place near Faaa, on the west, was the tail; the large lake Vaihiria was the ventricles or gills; while the lofty Orehena, the highest mountain in the island, probably six or seven thousand feet above the sea, was regarded as its dorsal fin; and its ventral fin was Matavai.”—_Ellis’s Polynesian Researches_, vol. i. page 167.