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Tower for the present and make Indefatigable, having a fiivonrable wind to 

 proceed south. In the evening light from a volcano showed very brightly from the 

 direction of James Island. 



Aug. 29. — This morning, on getting up at 0.30, found that we were becalmed in 

 the passage between James and Indefatigable, just off Daphne Islands, about 10 miles 

 from Conway Bay. During the day we managed to beat up to the bay, and 

 dropped anchor in 5 fathoms under the Lea of Eden Island. Indefatigable Island 

 slopes gently to the summit, and is thickly covered with vegetation. We can see 

 from the vessel what looks like mangrove trees along the shore ; also very tall 

 cactus. The volcano on James is very active, and this evening made a grand sight 

 to watch.* Conway Bay is a fine liarbour. 



Aug. 30. — This morning all liands went ashore on Indefatigable, and collected, 

 69 birds being the result. Birds very plentiful and tame. 



Aug. 31. — All hands collected to-day ; saved 54 birds. Beck secured two 

 large turtle. Drowne reports seeing a cuckoo. Shot at it, but failed to secure 

 it. I secured a small wood rat. Saw two more, but could not get them. Got 

 eight or ten very large crawfish, making a nice supper. 



Sept. 1. — All hands collected this morning. Beck got two more rats ; 

 Drowne another turtle. I got three ducks and two rails. Saw and shot at a 

 cnckoo. The cuckoos were very shy. Bills of ducks are plumbeous blue, not 

 black, as Kidgway states in his book. Saved 54 birds. Beck killed twenty odd 

 birds with stones. I secured a Geoipiza with a few white feathers on the head. 



Sept. 2. — All hands collected to-day. Yesterday Hull secured an egg of 

 the Buteo ; it was well incubated, which would seem to indicate that the hawks 

 lay bnt one egg. The mate found a nest of the blue heron with three fresh eggs, 

 but broke one in getting them. 



Sept. 3. — To-day we took the yawl-boat, and sailed north along tlie coast of 

 Indefatigable, about nine miles, making a landing at 11 a.m., and staying till 2 p.m. 

 Took a set of pelican eggs ;. nest in mangroves. If we had a naphtha launch we could 

 have collected all this locality and several islands, and vessel remained at Conway 

 Bay, saving hours daily and severe labour. One of the sailors reports seeing a 

 small snake. Grasshoppers, iguanas, lizards, and a few small butterflies seen. 



Sept. 4. — Weighed anchor this morning, and sailed for Duncan, arriving at 

 noon, but could find no anchorage. I took a short trip on the island, and could 

 find no suitable camping jjlace, so have got to lay to. 



Sept. 5. — Hull, Drowne and I landed about 7.30 this morning, intending to 

 shoot birds. About 11 we got into an immense crater, about half a mile across, 

 full of vegetation. I had not been in tliis long before I discovered a tortoise. 

 Calling the other boys, we seciired it, and searched for more. We found seven in 

 the course of the afternoon, turning them on their backs and weighting them with 

 heavy rocks, as we thought sufficiently. Got back to vessel after dark very tired, 

 leaving tortoise to be got on Tuesday. The captain against my wish ran back to 

 Conway Bay. 



Sept. 0. — Put up about seventy birds to-day : loaded cartridges, |mado turtle 

 skins, etc. Heavy swell from south. We are going to bring down the tortoise 

 to-morrow. It will be almost killing work, but it must be done. 



Sept. 7. — All hands landed on the east side of the island, leaving our lunch 

 at the boat, expecting to be back at noon with three tortoise. On getting to the 

 * See line 3 above, and pp. 9.5 ami IH. The volcanoes are supposed to be inactive ! — Ed. 



