282 ISLAND OF GUAHAM. 



sight of its western coast, where Nature has been 

 most prodigal ; and cannot but remember with 

 sorrow the extermination of the natives by the Spa- 

 niards, on their taking possession of the islands 

 and forcibly introducing the Catholic religion. 



It is remarkable that the soil of Guaham, 

 under the first stratum of earth, consists of 

 coral blocks not yet quite dissolved ; from which 

 it may be conjectured, that a former group of 

 low coral islands, as well as the basin which they 

 enclosed, were forced upwards by the power of 

 subterranean fire ; and in this manner the island 

 of Guaham has been formed. This hypothesis is 

 confirmed by Mr. Hoffman's discovery of a cra- 

 ter on the island, with a fire still burning in its 

 abyss. 



The fortress, standing on what is called the 

 Devil's Point, intended for the defence of the 

 town of Agadna, was so peacefully disposed, 

 that not one of its cannons was fit for use. I 

 saw, to my great astonishment, in the harbour 

 Caldera de Apra, ships bearing the English and 

 North American flags. The Spaniards do not 

 usually permit the entrance of foreign vessels ; 

 but I was informed by the captains of these. 



