586 Voyage of the Novara. 



history are plunged in the utmost obscurity, it seems not 

 improbable that these stone masses were once the fortified 

 retreat of pirates, and were built by Spanish corsairs 200 or 

 P)00 years back. This hypothesis receives confirmation in 

 the fact that in 1838 or 1840, a small brass cannon was found 

 on a hill in the interior, which was brought home as a 

 curiosity by H. M. S. Lame. Occasionally, too, at various 

 parts of the island clearings are found, some of which are 

 several acres in extent. In one of these, still in existence 

 near the harbour of Roankiddi, the traveller is shown an 

 artificial mound of about 20 feet wide, 8 feet high, and a 

 quarter of a mile long, which has obviously been thrown up 

 as a defence, or else has been the place of interment for such 

 as have fallen in a severe contest. 



This conjecture adopted, it follows that the present popu- 

 lation is of quite recent introduction, and the rumour of a 

 black race inhabiting the interior must necessarily be treated 

 as a myth. 



While we were asking questions and getting up informa- 

 tion, evening was beginning to draw on, and we could not 

 remain longer on the island, as it was necessary to return on 

 shipboard before nightfall, the frigate having meanwhile 

 been kept cruising under easy sail, about three or four miles 

 off the island. Another reason for our immediate departure 

 was to be found in our narrow flat-bottomed craft, which in 

 any sort of sea-way would have some difficulty in escaping 

 swamping. Had tlie wind during our return voyage fresh- 



