SMITHSONIAN EXPLORATIONS, I929 69 



which time we collected some small birds and lizards, the latter being 

 very plentiful. We arrived at the tiny Muertos Island about mid-after- 

 noon and soon started unloading the boat to make this our permanent 

 base. This island is the smallest of the seven, being only about 400 

 feet long by 300 feet wide, very low, with sandy shores on all sides, 

 the entire island appearing like a small san(l])ar, surrounded on three 

 sides l)y coral reefs that i)rotruded above the water during low tide. 

 All the larger vegetation was in the center of the island, a fine place 

 for a camp, as the trees were large enough for shelter and shade. 



On January 30 we made an early start for Tercero Island, the 

 second largest of the group, being about a half mile long by a 

 quarter mile wide, completely encircled by a wide sandy beach. Here, 

 besides an assortment of lizards and a few small birds, we were very 

 fortunate in getting a pair of the rare oyster catchers. About 

 2 p. m. we decided to start back, and when we boarded the boat the 

 crew appeared very talkative, somewhat nervous, and in a hurry, 

 which was quite contrary to their usual mood. It did not take us 

 long to learn the reason, for half a mile out from the lee side of the 

 island we began to run into huge waves and by now the wind from the 

 northeast was blowing a gale. From this point it was perhaps five 

 miles to our island camp. Many times the bow of our small boat 

 plowed through a large wave, soaking all of us and keeping both 

 Perrygo and me bailing water. The crew were yelling orders to one 

 another and to us, although at this time we did not understand what it 

 was all about, but it looked as though we might be swamped at any 

 moment. Finally we reached our tiny island, where six fisherman 

 started out in one boat to help us. In a few minutes we were trans- 

 ferred to their boat, while some of them helped our crew get safely 

 to the lee side of the island. The strong wind kept up all night, at 

 one time almost carrying our tent away. All night long the waves 

 pounding against the northeast corner of the island sounded like the 

 roar of distant cannon, and at times the waves would break over the 

 sandy rim of the island, but the water soon disappeared through the 

 sand. As our supply of fresh water had been almost completely 

 exhausted, we ordered the crew and cook to leave as early as possible 

 for the mainland to fetch a new supply of water and some fresh 

 vegetables. They left shortly after daybreak, the wind being favorable 

 to get them to Fort Liberte in a few hours, and we expected them 

 to return during the afternoon. I did not realize that our water supply 

 had gotten so low until, starting to prepare breakfast, I found that 

 it was less than two quarts. About noon the wind started blowing 

 again and in a few hours reached gale proportions, as it had the day 



