Anchor at Point de Galle. 343 



examined, were already strong and sharp enough to seize 

 a man, and strip the flesh off" him. Also a number of largo 

 dolphins and other fish, sported in the dead water under 

 the frigate's stern, and provided plentiful employment for 

 the harpoon and the rod. Presently we found ourselves within 

 six miles of the land, when a large number of pirogues 

 forthwith came swarming about us, all of a construction 

 similar to the pilot boat, and each manned by four half-naked 

 bronze natives. These offered fruits for sale, especially mag- 

 nificent, gigantic clusters of banana. On one such cluster 

 we counted, arranged in five rows, one over the other, not 

 less than 17<5 bananas. 



On the 8th January, we anchored in the unpicturesque 

 haven of Point de Galle, surrounded by groves of cocoa-nut 

 palms, directly opposite the lighthouse tower, and in a fine 

 quartz sand bottom of 16^ fathoms (103 feet English). All 

 large ships, that only intend remaining a short time, anchor in 

 the open roadstead, the entrance into the inner harbour 

 being rather difficult, owing to numerous coral reefs. In the 

 roads also lay the English frigate Shannon, from which, 

 in the absence of her captain, the first lieutenant immediately 

 came on board the Novara, and in the handsomest manner 

 put his services at our disposal. 



As the only Austrian Consul on the island was resident 

 in Colombo, M. Sonnenkalb, the Consul for Hamburg, had the 

 courtesy to receive us with the most hospitable of welcomes, 

 and proceeded to do us the honours of the place. 



