At our feet the waves were advancing over shelves of rocks covered with a great variety of sea-weeds, which swam in little fragments, and displayed much beauty and elegance of form as they were successively thrown upon the sand.
Ships of war and commerce were seen at different distances.

Fishermen were plying their trade in boats nearer the shore.

The noise of the flowing tide, combined with the voices of the sea-gulls over our heads, and now and then a distant gun fired from the ships as they passed along, added much to the peculiar sensations to which the scene gave birth.
Occasionally the striking of oars upon the waves, accompanied by the boatmen's song, met the ear.

The sheep aloft upon the down sometimes mingled their bleatings with the other sounds.

Thus all nature seemed to unite in impressing an attentive observer's heart with affecting thoughts.
I remained for a considerable time in conversation with the Negro, finding that his master was gone from home for the day, and had given him liberty for some hours.