400 Annals of the Carnegie Museum. 



of Cat Island, which appeared as a long undulating dark line on our 

 port side. A light breeze just after sunrise wafted us in towards 

 "The Bight," our second port of call, but it presently died out, and 

 the mails were sent ashore in a small boat, the distance being about 

 eight miles. At noon we got a breeze from the northwest and in a 

 little over an hour had dropped anchor off the settlement. 



After landing some cargo here, and replenishing our water supply, 

 we started for Rum Cay about five P.M., with a light but fair wind, 

 rounding Hawk's Nest Point three hours later, and were soon in the 

 blue water off soundings. We were aroused on the morning of January 

 27 by a thud on deck, and upon going up found that a large dolphin 

 had been caught on the trolling line, and we witnessed its wonderful 

 changing colors while dying. We had been becalmed all night, with 

 Cat Island still in view, the sea smooth as glass and clear as crystal. 

 Several more dolphins were hanging about, but they would not bite 

 at a baited hook. The captain succeeded in getting a ten-pounder, 

 however, with an improvised spear. We ate heartily of these animals, 

 with no ill effects, and they proved a very welcome addition to the rather 

 meager bill of fare served on these boats. We got a breeze at last and 

 resumed our voyage, passing Conception Island at two o'clock, and 

 came to anchor at Port Nelson, Rum Cay, at seven-fifteen. After 

 landing mails and cargo we left this port on January 28, timing our 

 departure so as to make Clarence Harbor, Long Island, the following 

 morning, as it cannot be entered except in daylight. No land was in 

 sight, however, the next morning, so we ran west until we sighted 

 Long Island, and spent the entire day beating down to Clarence 

 Harbor against a light head wind, coming to anchor inside the bar 

 just after sunset. I sometimes slept in a stay-sail on the cabin roof, 

 and rousing up at four o'clock on the morning of January 30, I had 

 a fine view of the constellation of the Southern Cross, poised in the 

 heavens above the low hills at the south side of the harbor. Later 

 I made a short visit ashore, where the destruction wrought by the 

 hurricane of the previous October was everywhere evident. The 

 large church on the hill at the back of the town, as well as many houses, 

 were mere piles of ruins, and the people were living in huts and make- 

 shifts. This place, as well as Rum Cay and Watlings Island, were in 

 the direct path of the hurricane, and suffered heavy loss. The most 

 valuable part of the "Estrella's" cargo on this particular trip was 

 certain bags of money, sent by the Government to the various local 



